Stage three water shortage; extreme conditions; mandatory reductions targeted to reduce overall water use by 20 percent.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 47-253
in effectSec. 47-253. - Stage three water shortage; extreme conditions; mandatory reductions targeted to reduce overall water use by 20 percent.
(a) A stage three water shortage is a period of time that begins when, upon the finding of the director of an extreme shortage and the recommendation of the mayor, the city council declares a stage three water shortage upon finding that one or more of the following conditions exist that may impact all or a portion of the city's water supply system:
(1) Combined total storage of surface water supply is less than 18 monthsbased on a calculated projection of monthly production of city water that includes historic production and information provided by customers;
(2) Combined total storage of surface water supply is less than 12 months, based on a calculated projection of current water production for the most recent 24-hour period;
(3) Current water production is 85 percent of the available treatment capacity;
(4) Loss of approximately 25 percent of available treatment capacity; or
(5) Water pressure readings of 40 pounds per square inch or less throughout all or material portions of the city's treated water distribution system.
(b) The declaration may cover all or a portion of the city's water supply system and shall be in writing and filed with the city secretary. The declaration shall state that the city's overall water use reduction goal during a stage three water shortage is 20 percent. A stage three water shortage ends when, upon the recommendations of the director and the mayor, the city council finds that the extreme conditions leading to the declaration either no longer exist, have been mitigated, or have been escalated, and the city council files a written declaration to that effect with the city secretary.
(c) City departments' water use reduction plans shall be implemented immediately upon the declaration of a stage three water shortage period and shall remain in effect until the conclusion of the water shortage period.
(d) During a stage three water shortage, all outdoor use shall be unlawful except that customers may use city water to continue production and protect inventory of their primary business products.
(e) Immediately upon the declaration of a stage three water shortage, the city may claim force majeure to all of its existing water service contracts consistent with the terms of such water service contracts and in accordance with applicable state law.
(Ord. No. 2012-997, § 2(Exh. A), 11-14-2012)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH47WASE_ARTVIIWASH_DIV2SHEM_S47-253STTHWASHEXCOMARETAREOVWAUS20PEFetched: 10/26/2026