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San Antonio, SAWS, and Water Restrictions

April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sprinklers

San Antonio is dry. We need more water. Lots of it. With our continued drought conditions, this summer could be a long one when it comes to watching our yards dry up. The Edwards Aquifer is our benchmark for all water restrictions and knowing how SAWS determines which stage we’re in and what that means to you can at least help you know when to water and how to help conserve the water we do have. There have been a few changes made to the SAWS restrictions for 2013.

Year Round Water Restrictions

  • Residential fountains, both indoor and outdoor are allowed.
  • Sprinklers are permitted any day of the week – before 10AM or after 8PM
  • Watering with a hose and drip irrigation is allowed any time of day.
  • Washing of parking lots, driveways, streets, or sidewalks is allowed, but you must not allow water to runoff.
  • Waste water (runoff) is not allowed at all times.

Stage 1 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 660 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 1 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 660 foot mark.

  • Residential fountains, both indoor and outdoor are allowed.
  • Watering with a hose, soaker hose, or sprinkler is allowed once a week before 10AM or after 8PM on your designated watering day.
  • Overnight watering is not allowed.
  • Waste water (runoff) is not allowed at all times.
  • All pools must have a minimum of 25% of their surface covered with evaporation screens or inflatable pool toys/decorations.
  • Washing of parking lots, driveways, streets, or sidewalks is not allowed.
  • You may wash your car once per week on Saturday or Sunday, but must not waste water. You may use SAWS-certified car washes any day of the week.

Stage 2 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 650 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 2 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 650 foot mark.

  • All Stage 1 Water Restrictions apply.
  • Watering with irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed once a week from 7-11AM and 7-11PM on your designated watering day.
  • You can water with drip irrigation systems or a 5 gallon bucket between 7-11AM and 7-11PM.
  • Watering with a hose is allowed during any time on any day.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 640 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 3 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 640 foot mark.

  • All Stage 1 and Stage 2 Water Restrictions apply.
  • Watering with irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed is allowed every other week from 7-11AM and 7-11PM on your designated watering day.
  • Local media and online sources will announce weeks when no watering is allowed.
  • You can water with drip irrigation systems every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7-11AM and 7-11PM.
  • Watering with a hose is allowed during any time on any day.

Stage 4 Water Restrictions

When they supply of water from the Edwards Aquifer is determined to be inadequate to meet city wide usage, Stage 4 Water Restrictions may be declared by the City Manager after a 30 day monitoring period following Stage 3 Water Restrictions.

  • All Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 Water Restrictions apply.
  • SAWS will chard a “drought surcharge” on all accounts for water used or assumed to be used for watering and irrigation. This surcharge remains in effect for a complete billing cycle and will remain if the Stage 4 Water Restrictions have not been lifted by the beginning of the next billing cycle.
  • City Council may also establish additional restrictions.
  • Stage 4 Water Restrictions remain in effect until there is an announcement in the newspaper of its cancellation.

Note: The items in this post cover residential use only, for information about commercial use of water during the various stages of water restrictions, please visit the SAWS Drought Restriction page.

image courtesy of QuietDanst

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Homeowner Association (HOA) Laws Changed in Texas

March 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Texas Homeowners Association Law Changes

So how many of you have heard about the new laws regarding Texas Homeowners Associations (HOAs for short) effective the first of the year? Many of the changes were long overdue and most Texas homeowners will be happy for them. The changes now allow more freedoms when it comes to outdoor displays (flags, religious items) and installation of environmentally friendly systems (solar panels, rain barrels). The changes also make it harder for HOAs to foreclose on homeowners because of unpaid fees and allow for foreclosure protections for active military personnel.

Many of these changes came about after the press shed light on stories of HOAs making over-the-top, heavy-handed or arbitrary enforcement of their rules on homeowners. Recent examples in Texas are the Marine veteran in Houston who was sued by his HOA for flying the American flag, a Jewish couple who’s HOA threatened them with fines over their display of a mezuzah on their doorway, and a National Guard officer in Frisco who had his HOA foreclose on his home when he fell behind in his payments while deployed to Iraq. It’s amazing we have to regulate what many believe to be common sense, but we do–kind of like why HOAs exist in the first place—to protect the interests of a community in maintaining a high standard of living and home values. HOAs have become a basic reality of community life in Texas—especially in the Stone Oak area. However, HOAs often get a bad rap so let’s remember the benefits HOA’s provide to their communities.

First, HOAs provide homeowners a level of certainty their neighborhood will remain attractive over time. Residents don’t have to worry about their neighbor parking a boat, RV, or commercial vehicle for a lengthy period time outside their home. They also don’t have to worry about bad home paint jobs or overgrown lawns. The second good thing HOAs do is provide neighborhood recreational amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, a park or playground, and community centers many residents could not afford on their own. Finally, HOAs are beneficial in providing a variety of services to their communities, including maintenance on common areas and management of the recreational amenities.

No two HOAs are the same and many neighborhoods have more than one. They can be more or less restrictive, run by the property management company or the homeowners themselves. Whenever considering buying a home in a HOA community, read the HOA restrictions keeping in mind the rules imposed on your neighbors will also be imposed on you. Most importantly, know your rights.

image courtesy of Lars Ploughmann

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No Refusal DWI Enforcement

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

No Refusal DWI Enforcement

As the new year approaches, it is a time of reflection, celebration, and, let’s face it, drinking. Last year Bexar County (and several other neighboring counties) implemented what they call a “No Refusal Weekend” throughout the year, but concentrating around New Year’s Eve. As the number of DWI arrests decreased, and late night cab calls increased, the DA’s office and SAPD figured they were on to something. Earlier this year, the No Refusal program became permanent for the city.

Here’s the No Refusal program in a nutshell:

If you are pulled over by the police and suspected of drunk driving, the standard protocol is to have you take agility tests (think walking a straight line, ABC’s backwards, etc.)and/or a breathalyzer test.

In the past, you may have been able to refuse the breath test. Now, if you try and refuse the breathalyzer, police officers will obtain a warrant for a blood draw, and you will be legally obligated to provide that sample.

Samples will be taken by medical professionals, but the whole process is not without controversy about its constitutionality. All the same, the rule stands, and it is best to be informed, and to avoid drunk driving all together. For your convenience, here is a list of local cab companies that will be available to get you home safely from all of your New Year’s festivities:

  • Yellow Cab (210)222-2222
  • San Antonio Taxis (210)444-2222
  • Towne Car Taxi (210) 826-TAXI (8294)
  • National Cab (210) 434-4444

From all of us at Kimberly Howell Properties, we wish you and yours a very safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

image courtesy of davidsonscott15

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San Antonio real estate and property information provided by Kimberly Howell Properties. Kimberly Howell Properties does not assume any liability or responsibility for the operation or content of any of the linked resources, nor for any of the interpretations, comments, graphics, or opinions contained therein. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. KJH Properties, Inc. is a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas, Equal Opportunity Employer, and supporter of the Fair Housing Act.