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1. What are the city's current watering guidelines?

McKinney is currently in its summer water conservation plan

• No outdoor watering is allowed between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Outdoor watering is permitted on your trash day and three days later if necessary.
• We are asking water customers to reduce landscape watering by 2 minutes per zone.
• Additional restrictions may be put in place depending on the ability of McKinney and the city's water supplier, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), to meet water demands.

2. What happens if I don't follow the guidelines?

Violators may receive a penalty collected through their regular water bill. Failure to pay the penalties can result in the water to your home or business being shut off. Please call 972-547-7367 for questions regarding water violation penalties.

• First penalty - Warning
• Second penalty - $50
• Third and subsequent - $100
• Fourth and subsequent - $150

3. Can I water my landscape (i.e., trees, flowers, vegetable gardens) more than my lawn or outside the watering guidelines?

• Landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems to trees, flowers, and vegetable gardens may occur at the same frequency as irrigation for turf. However, additional watering to these targeted areas may occur more frequently with targeted methods such as watering cans, hand-held hoses, soaker hoses, or dedicated zones using drip irrigation.
• If drought conditions continue, additional restrictions may be put into place that limit watering to all plants. 

4. I have an ET controller exemption; I thought I was exempt from the watering guidelines.

• During non-drought conditions, in exchange for installing water-saving evapotranspiration (ET) technology, the city provides an exemption that allows you to irrigate your lawn and other landscaping on non-designated watering days. This exemption is predicated on sufficient water supplies. Unfortunately, the north Texas region has been experiencing significant drought conditions this summer which has stretched NTMWD's capacity to deliver water. Therefore, NTMWD is asking its member communities to restrict water usage to lower demand within its systems.
• As stated in the ET controller exemption guidelines, the city has the right to alter the program anytime. The temporary pause of the water exemption is one of the ways the city is doing its part to reduce the demands on the water system to ensure everyone has water to meet their essential needs.
• When the ET exemptions resume, the city will post on McKinneyTexas.org/WaterSmart.

5. Do commercial businesses have different guidelines than residents?

Generally, no.

Some exceptions exist, including businesses that require water to support their daily operations, such as a car wash. Should drought conditions continue, other restrictions to these types of operations may be considered.

6. Why do I see gallons of water running out of a hydrant? Isn't that just wasting water?

• Flushing water from fire hydrants is an important activity to maintain water quality in the system and cannot be avoided even during drought conditions. By performing this activity, the city is maintaining the necessary chlorine levels within the water to ensure the safety and quality of this product for human consumption. We strive to limit the amount of water flushed for environmental and economic reasons; however, this activity is an unavoidable operational function to maintain water quality under state regulations set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Fire hydrants are also tested periodically to ensure they are ready for an emergency.
• We are sometimes asked if residents can increase their irrigation in place of flushing hydrants. While this is possible in theory, the practical application of coordinating irrigation on private property to achieve the same volumes of water at the appropriate time is difficult.

7. Is the city running out of water? Why are the guidelines being enforced?

Water is a finite resource, and our region's ability to supply water is constrained by multiple factors, including the water treatment plant capacity, pipe capacity (diameter), pumping capacity, lake levels, and other related factors. NTMWD has indicated that they are nearing the upper limit of their delivery capacity and are requesting member cities and customers to conserve water. It is important to reduce water demand now before more stringent regulations may be necessary to meet basic human and public safety needs. Long term, NTMWD is focused on expanding production and storage capacity through projects such as Bois d'Arc lake and the Leonard Treatment plant; however, these projects take many years to plan and construct.

8. Can I do anything to keep my grass from turning blonde, given the current temperatures and watering guidelines?

• Grass naturally goes dormant during hot weather and will normally return to green grass during the cooler months. For more information on best practices for turf management, please visit McKinneyTexas.org/WaterSmart.
• Additionally, the city periodically hosts educational experts on turf management. The dates for these events are posted on the city's website at McKinneyTexas.org/GreenEvents.
• The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) also hosts educational workshops on water smart landscape management. Visit https://www.ntmwd.com/classes/.

9. How do I report a violation?

To report a water violation, fill out our online form at McKinneyTexas.org/ReportWater or call 972-547-7367. If you are contacting us by phone, we must have the following information to investigate the violation:

• Exact address of the location you are reporting
• Date of the water violation
• Time of day the violation occurred
• Your name and phone number so we may contact you if additional information is needed.

10. Why do I see the city still watering parks outside of the watering guidelines?

The Parks Department adheres to the same watering conservation practices. Due to the size of the park areas, not all watering can be accomplished on the same day, and it is necessary to water different areas of the parks on different days.

11. I have new sod, trees, flowers or bushes. Can I water them more until they are established?

• Yes, exemptions are allowed for the establishment of new landscaping for 30 days after installation.
  You are required to apply online for this exemption.
• Should drought conditions continue, additional restrictions may be put in place that limit watering for new landscaping.