City enacts water restrictions as drought continues

The City of Marlin announced Wednesday, July 13, they have enacted Stage 4 Critical Water Conditions. The city said their water supply has reached critical levels, leading to the jump into Stage 4 conditions. 

Officials also cite significant sediment affecting measurements and noted they hope to have the Brazos River Pump up and running by next week. The city is currently awaiting parts to make repairs to that pump. 

Officials continue to monitor lake levels and will update citizens accordingly. Stage 4 restrictions hope to bring about a 40 percent reduction in daily water demand. 

Citizens will be required to limit irrigation of landscaped areas to designated watering days between 6-10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight. 

All watering must be done by hand-held hose, hand-held buckets of no more than five gallons, or drip irrigation only. Hose-end sprinklers and sprinkler systems are prohibited. The washing of vehicles to include trucks, cars, motorbikes, trailers, airplanes, and other vehicles not occurring on the premises of a commercial car wash and commercial service station that is not in the interest of public safety, health, or welfare is prohibited. 

Washing at commercial car washes and commercial services stations must be limited to the hours of 6-10 a.m. and 6-10 p.m. Filling, refilling, or adding of water to pools, wading pools, or jacuzzies is not allowed. The operation of ornamental fountains or ponds is also prohibited except to support aquatic life. Violators of these restrictions could be fined up to $500.