Regional water authorities have responded to this summer’s drought by mandating water restrictions. The restrictions are different depending on the governing body, and jurisdictions often overlap, but many similarities exist.

Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District officially moved to drought Stage 5 – Extreme Drought as of June 30 and the city of Boerne announced Stage 2 Water Alert restrictions on July 1. These designations place limits on outdoor water use, including irrigation, washing cars, swimming pools and ornamental fountains.

Boerne’s Stage 2 restrictions declared on July 1 include an address-based weekly watering day designation, pool restrictions, and vehicle washing restrictions. A full list of restrictions is available on the city Web site, www.ci. boerne.tx.us, or by calling the city at (830) 249-9511.

CCGCWD general manager Micah Voulgaris said that residents in the district’s jurisdiction who are reliant on groundwater from wells must reduce water use by 40 percent, irrigate lawns only one day per week and stop watering most athletic fields and crops.

Other restrictions are listed on the district Web site, www.CCGWCD.org, or by calling CCGWCD at (830) 816-2504.

“It’s just going to be an inconvenience,” said horticulturalist Bob Webster. “It’s not the end of the world as far as landscapes go.”

Webster is co-owner of Shades of Green Nursery in San Antonio and hosts a radio show on KTSA. He says that native plants can get by on only one watering per week.

“Most people shouldn’t panic over being limited to watering one time per week,” he said.

Boerne utility rate-payers are not subject to the same restrictions as Cow Creek because those users receive water from a combination of sources other than groundwater, said Boerne Public Works director Mike Mann. He said that the city gets water from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, Boerne City Lake and groundwater. Only water groundwater is subject to CCGWCD restrictions, Mann said.

“Those resources are still finite,” Mann said. “We still need to conserve.”

Voulgaris said that this year’s drought is following the same pattern as the drought of 2006. He said that the next stage, 6 – Drought Emergency, has never been declared.

Webster said that simple, practical steps can be taken to maintain landscapes. He says that one inch of irrigation per week should keep a lawn going. He also suggests that landscaping feature two to three inches of mulch to maintain moisture in the soil.

Residential air conditioners can also be harnessed for water-producing power, as Webster explains that each unit can produce 10 to 25 gallons of clean water condensate daily. Using native Texas plants is also wise, Webster said, as those plants have naturally adapted to Texas’ hot, dry climate.