Wichita Falls’ corner of North Texas was enduring one of the worst droughts in its history at the time, leaving the reservoirs that supply water to the city barely treading above 20 percent full.
Now, as almost 50 percent of Texas deals with a drought still threatening to spread, water experts are recommending cities implement more comprehensive, permanent water restrictions — like the ones Wichita Falls used three years ago — to avoid the growing pains that emergency drought restrictions can bring.
Ayres was forced to close his businesses two times a week during the drought’s peak and city officials were threatening all car washes in the city with being completely shut down for the duration of the disaster.
Wichita Falls entered a period of record drought in 2010, and other parts of the state were soon in similar straits — 2011 was the driest year in Texas history.
“Everybody thinks they’re using what they need, but folks don’t actually know what they need and aren’t using what is appropriate,” said Jennifer Walker, senior program manager for water programs at the National Wildlife Federation.
Wichita Falls currently allows residents to water their lawns on as many days as they like, but only from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. Russell Schreiber, Wichita Falls’ director of public works, said restrictions like those recommended in the study would cause water rates to balloon as the utility worked to offset reduced usage of the water being sold.
Aucoin said he recommends similar restrictions for the surrounding communities in North Texas.
“If we can get used to being efficient and conservative with our water use, it will help in the future because our water will go further," she said.
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