According to drought.gov, abnormal dryness or drought are currently affecting approximately 17,922,000 people in Texas, which is about 71 percent of the state’s population.
Drought is described as one of the most common and costly types of natural disasters in the U.S. From 1980–2014, drought has cost the country an average of $9.4 billion a year and has contributed to about 3,000 deaths in total.
According to the local lake level report from the City of San Angelo, Lake Nasworthy is 81 percent full, Twin Buttes Reservoir is 11 percent full, O.C.
Currently the City of San Angelo is in standard conservation, which restricts outside watering to no more than twice every seven days and no more than one inch per week.
The city’s water conservation plan changes water restrictions based upon how much supply is available.
San Angelo will move into drought level one when there is less than 24 months of supply remaining.
If the city reaches drought level three with only a 12 month supply of water remaining, outside watering will be prohibited.
West Texas and the Concho Valley are on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert which is in a perpetual state of drought with sporatic periods of abundant rainfall.
One of the problems in the desert is evaporation.
The truth is that almost as much water evaporates from local reservoirs as is used by water rights holders.