July 19, 2001

Re:       Water Pressure

            Even-Odd Irrigation Scheduling

Dear Lakeway Water Customers:

Several of your neighbors in the northeast area of Lakeway have recently reported low water pressure to us.  We are taking this issue very seriously, and are looking for solutions.  A prime cause of this lower than normal water pressure is that we are providing a substantial volume of water to our neighboring water supplier, Water Control and Improvement District #17.  Their production plant is under construction and they have instituted mandatory rationing.  This additional demand on our system has caused lower reserve levels in our elevated storage tanks and has reduced the pressure in our distribution system.  This results in lower pressures in Lakeway’s system with the worst problems being in the northeast area.

Additionally, two recent events made the pressure problem even worse.  Last Thursday, July 12, we were attempting to re-route water from our production plant in west Lakeway to satisfy District #17’s unusual demand in the East and this also made the pressure lower in the northeast area.  This was corrected mid-day Saturday.  On Monday morning, a contractor’s crew was working near Indian Bend and Brooks Hollow Road and accidentally ruptured our six-inch water main.  This caused water pressure to go very low for a short period.  We have also found some closed valves that should normally be open at the intersections of Plum and Copperleaf and at Explorer and Tellus

We are continuing to search for closed valves that should be open by systematically checking every valve in the District.  This will take a few days, as there are over 700 valves to locate and turn.  We have reduced the amount of water we allow District 17 to take, and we are restricting the periods in which they can take it.

The Lakeway District does not have a water shortage or production limitation.  However, there is a way that you could help us and that is to irrigate your lawns on an Even-Odd schedule.  This means that you irrigate on even calendar days if your address is an even number, and likewise if you have an odd numbered street address.  This will increase our system pressure without restricting the amount of water you can use.  Adopting the Even-Odd irrigation schedule immediately will serve everyone’s best interest.

We will continue to monitor the situation.  Thanks for your cooperation and forbearance.

Sincerely,  

Richard W. Eason

General Manager