All Frequently Asked Questions
Variance Questions
A variance is a temporary exemption, authorized by Texas Water Company, for individuals who can demonstrate just cause for uses prohibited in the Drought Contingency Plan. Variance requests for new landscaping and/or sod are only accepted during Drought Stage 0 or Drought Stage 1.
Any Texas Water Company customer can apply for a variance. Retail customers must have a current backflow device inspection and a completed customer service inspection to be considered for a variance. Variance requests for new landscaping and/or sod are only accepted during Drought Stage 0 or Drought Stage 1.
Drought Contingency Plan Questions
The Texas Administrative Code requires Texas Water Company to have a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). Texas Water Company updates these plans to ensure we are being a strong steward of water and submits these plans to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for approval, at least, every five years.
A DCP is a strategy Texas Water Company implements to manage water supply during a drought, or other water supply shortage.
The DCP contains year-round rules and water restrictions that vary during different drought stages. The requirements are established to protect the Texas Water Company (TWC) water supply and applies to all TWC customers including individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, wholesale, and all other legal entities.
Water Violation Questions
A water violation is the use of water that violates the requirements in the Drought Contingency Plan. Examples of violations include:
- Outside watering on wrong day or time
- Unrepaired water leak
- Water run-off of any kind
You received a water violation for not following Texas Water Company’s current Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). The DCP includes a watering schedule, water restrictions, and prohibits water waste. If you believe your irrigation system is set properly, we encourage you to review your irrigation system controller because irrigation system controllers can reset to factory default program settings if there are battery issues or power outages.
Use our water violation form to report a homeowner or business violating the Drought Contingency Plan.
If a violation is identified, Texas Water Company will send a notice to inform you. Continued non-compliance may lead to enforcement actions such as administrative fees, a flow restrictor, or service termination.
A water flow restrictor is a device that decreases the internal diameter of the water service line and reduces the quantity of water able to flow through the line.
Conservation/Drought Questions
Although rainfall can provide some drought relief, a single rainstorm typically does not break the drought because water supplies must be replenished in the aquifers and lakes.
Learn more: USGS website
Visit our Outdoor Conservation Tips page!
Visit our Indoor Conservation Tips page!
Texas Water Company (TWC) serves multiple counties with different water systems and water supplies. These differences result in varying drought stage triggers for each county. Please visit our Drought Management page for specific triggers for your area. Examples of triggers include state well levels, groundwater conservation district declarations, U.S. Drought Monitor, rates of precipitation, etc.
All Texas Water Company (TWC) customers must follow the requirements of the Drought Contingency Plan. The TWC provides contractors with treated effluent from our Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Texas Water Company (TWC) is committed to conserving water through several key initiatives:
- Rainwater & Condensate Collection: We have installed rainwater harvesting cisterns at our facilities and are evaluating condensate collection from HVAC systems. This reclaimed water may be used for operating toilets and other non-potable purposes.
- Water Recycling & Reuse: A 600-gallon water reclaim system allows us to reuse water from washing trucks and equipment, saving approximately 90,000 gallons per year.
- Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: We are transitioning to native, drought-resistant plants at all TWC campuses, eliminating the need for irrigation systems.
- Efficiency Upgrades: High-efficiency toilets, urinals, and faucet aerators are being installed to reduce water usage by up to 20%.
- On-Demand Water Heaters: These reduce water waste by providing hot water instantly, eliminating the need to run taps while waiting for warm water.
Water conservation is a shared responsibility, and we remain dedicated to reducing water use while providing reliable service to our customers.