(a) 
Lawns and landscaping may be watered on any day, at any time, by handheld hose, drip irrigation, a soaker hose or tree bubbler. (The intent of this measure is to allow for the protection of structural foundations, trees, and other high value landscape materials).
Except for hand watering, drip irrigation and the use of soaker hoses, a person may only irrigate, water, or cause or permit the irrigation or watering of any lawn or landscape, inclusive of structural foundations, trees, and other high value landscape materials, located on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person (i) on a day designated as an outdoor water use day for the property's address as shown below; and (ii) between the hours of 12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on such day.
(1) 
Residential addresses ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) may water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
(2) 
Residential addresses ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may water on Thursdays and Sundays.
(3) 
All non-residential locations (apartment complexes, businesses, industries, parks, street and/or roadway medians, etc.) may water on Tuesdays and Fridays.
(b) 
Except for hand watering, drip irrigation and the use of soaker hoses, a person commits an offense if that person irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation or watering of any lawn or landscape located on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(c) 
Except for hand watering, drip irrigation and the use of soaker hoses, a person commits an offense if that person irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation or watering of any lawn or landscape located on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person on a day that is not designated as an outdoor water use for that property address as shown in subsection (a) above.
(d) 
A person commits an offense if a person knowingly or recklessly irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation or watering of a lawn or landscape located on premises owned, leased or managed by the person in a manner that causes:
(1) 
A substantial amount of water to fall upon impervious areas instead of a lawn or landscape, such that a constant stream of water overflows from the lawn or landscape onto a street or other drainage area; or
(2) 
An irrigation system or other lawn or landscape watering device to operate during any form of precipitation.
(e) 
A person commits an offense if, on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person, a person operates a lawn or landscape irrigation system or device that:
(1) 
Has any broken or missing sprinkler head; or
(2) 
Has not been properly maintained in a manner that prevents the waste of water.
(f) 
Affirmative defenses.
(1) 
It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense in section 78-161 that at the time such person irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation or watering of any lawn or landscape, such activity was for the purpose of:
a. 
Dust control of a sports field; or
b. 
The maintenance, repair, or testing of an irrigation system.
(2) 
The activity described in subsection (f)(1)a. and b. may only occur within a period of two days no more than once every 30 days. Any such activity requiring a longer period or greater frequency shall require a variance as provided by subsection (g).
(g) 
Variances.
(1) 
The public works operations manager or his designee may grant variances to the twice per week watering and irrigation restrictions and schedule, if one or more of the following conditions are met:
a. 
Failure to grant such a variance would cause an emergency condition adversely affecting health, sanitation, or fire safety for the public or the Person requesting the variance;
b. 
Compliance with the watering and irrigation restrictions and/or schedule cannot be accomplished due to technical or other limitations; or
c. 
Alternative methods that achieve the same level of reduction in water use can be implemented.
(2) 
The public works operations manager or his designee may grant variances to allow for establishment of hydromulch, grass sod, or grass seed for new lawns.
(3) 
Variances shall be granted or denied at the discretion of the public works operations manager or his designee. All petitions for variances shall be in writing and shall include the following:
a. 
Name and address of the petitioner(s);
b. 
Purpose of the water use;
c. 
Specific provisions from which relief is requested;
d. 
Detailed statement of the adverse effect of the provision from which relief is requested;
e. 
Description of the relief requested;
f. 
Period of time for which the variance is sought;
g. 
Alternative measures that will be taken to reduce water use; and
h. 
Other pertinent information requested.
(h) 
A person who irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation or watering by use of an alternative water source such as a well, reclaimed or reused water is exempt from prosecution if that person has:
(1) 
Registered such alternative water source with the city;
(2) 
Provided sufficient proof to the public works director that the alternative water source is from a well, reclaimed or reused water and has allowed inspection by the water department director if deemed necessary; and
(3) 
Complied with the city's backflow and cross-connection control program and division 2 of chapter 78 of the Code of Ordinances.
(Code 1975, § 23-11; Ordinance 3046, § 1, adopted 4/13/2009; Ordinance 3309, § 1, adopted 6/23/2014)
The City of North Richland Hills, Texas hereby adopts the 2024 Water Conservation Plan attached hereto. The city commits to implement the requirements and procedures set forth in the adopted plan.[1]
(Code 1975, § 23-13; Ordinance 2830, § 1, adopted 4/25/2005; Ordinance 2882, § 1, adopted 5/8/2006; Ordinance 3309, § 1, adopted 6/23/2014; Ordinance 3583, § 2, adopted 5/13/2019; Ordinance 3850, § 2, adopted 4/22/2024)
[1]
Editor’s note – The water Conservation Plan is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(a) 
Plan adopted.
The city council hereby approves the 2024 Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan (the "plan") attached hereto. The city commits to implement the requirements and procedures set forth in the adopted plan.
(b) 
Procedure, rules and regulations.
The city manager or his/her designee shall have the authority to enact and promulgate rules and regulations of the plan as necessary to protect the health and safety of the general public.
(c) 
Penalty for violations.
Any customer, as defined by Rule 288.2, Title 30, Chapter 288 Subchapter B, Texas Administrative Code, failing to comply with the provisions of the plan shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor involving health and safety and shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000.00 and/or discontinuance of water service by the city. Each day a customer fails to comply with the plan is a separate violation. The city may also seek injunctive or other civil relief for actual or threatened violations.
(d) 
Variances.
The city manager or his/her designee shall have the authority to grant temporary variances for water uses otherwise prohibited under the plan if it is determined that the failure to grant such variance would cause an emergency condition adversely affecting the health, sanitation or fire protection for the public or the person requesting the variance.
(Ordinance 3046, § 2, adopted 4/13/2009; Ordinance 3192, § 1, adopted 6/25/2012; Ordinance 3309, § 1, adopted 6/23/2014; Ordinance 3583, § 3, adopted 5/13/2019; Ordinance 3850, § 3, adopted 4/22/2024)
(a) 
Except for hand watering and the use of soaker hoses, a person commits an offense if a person irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation of watering of any lawn or landscape located on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(b) 
A person commits an offense if he knowingly or recklessly irrigates, waters, or causes or permits the irrigation or watering of a lawn or landscape located on premises owned, leased or managed by the person in a manner that causes:
(1) 
A substantial amount of water to fall upon impervious areas instead of a lawn or landscape, such that a constant stream of water overflows from the lawn or landscape onto a street or other drainage area; or
(2) 
An irrigation system or other lawn or landscape watering device to operate during any form of precipitation.
(c) 
A person commits an offense if, on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person, he operates a lawn or landscape irrigation system or device that:
(1) 
Has any broken or missing sprinkler head; or
(2) 
Has not been properly maintained in a manner that prevents the waste of water.
(Ordinance 2893, § 1, adopted 7/10/2006; Ordinance 3009, § 1, adopted 8/26/2008)
(a) 
All irrigation systems installed on or after October 25, 1999 with the exception of those associated with agricultural and/or single-family residential uses must be equipped with rain and freeze sensors. (See section 114-74)
(b) 
Any agricultural and/or single-family residential irrigation system installed within the city on or after August 1, 2006 must be equipped with rain and freeze sensors.
(c) 
The potable water supply to lawn irrigation system shall be protected against backflow in accordance with the city's backflow and cross-connection control program adopted by article VII of chapter 78 of the Code of Ordinances.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly or recklessly install, operate, or cause, or permit the installation of or the operation of, an irrigation system in violation of subsections (a) through (d) on premises owned, leased, or managed by that person.
(Ordinance 2893, § 1, adopted 7/10/2006)
(a) 
The director of public works or his designee may grant exceptions from the provisions of sections 78-65 or 78-66 to persons demonstrating extreme hardship and/or need as determined by the director of public works or his designee and only under the following conditions:
(1) 
The applicant must sign a compliance agreement on forms provided by the public works department, agreeing to irrigate or water a lawn or landscape only in the amount and manner permitted by the exception.
(2) 
Granting of an exception must not cause an immediate significant reduction in the city's water supply.
Examples of hardships that will be considered shall include such things but not be limited to such items as:
-
New landscaping and/or lawns that can not be watered during the specified times
-
Installation of new irrigation systems
-
Repair and/or adjustments to an existing irrigation system
-
Any hardship related to the health, safety and welfare of the person making the request
-
Any other request determined to be a hardship as determined by the public works director or his designee
(b) 
The director of public works or his designee may revoke an exception granted when determined that:
(1) 
The conditions of subsection (a) are not being met or are no longer applicable;
(2) 
The terms of the compliance agreement are being violated; or
(3) 
The health, safety or welfare of other persons requires revocation.
(Ordinance 2893, § 1, adopted 7/10/2006)