Survey Questions 1 through 4

Question 1: “How concerned are you about the current drought and its impact on water availability in Kerr County?”
Survey responses show an unmistakable sense of urgency about water. Of the 51 Kerr County residents who answered Question 1, nearly three-quarters (38 people, 74.5 percent) describe themselves as “very concerned” about the drought’s impact on local water supplies. Another 17.6 percent (9 respondents) say they are “somewhat concerned,” leaving only four individuals—7.8 percent—who feel neutral and none who are unconcerned.
 
In other words, every participant acknowledges at least some level of worry, and a clear majority place the issue at the highest end of the scale. This widespread anxiety sets the stage for the rest of the findings: public discussion can assume a shared recognition of the problem and focus immediately on solutions rather than awareness-building.
 
Key take-aways
  1. High urgency across the community. Nearly three-quarters of respondents classify themselves as very concerned, indicating a broad perception that the drought is a pressing threat.
  2. Limited complacency. Fewer than 8 % are neutral; no one selected “unconcerned,” suggesting that outreach can safely assume baseline awareness rather than starting from scratch.
  3. Messaging implications.
    • Emphasize concrete next steps rather than convincing people the problem exists.
    • Highlight how proposed conservation or policy actions directly address drought impacts—to match the depth of concern.
  4. Action implications.
    • Share the current groundwater and surface-water status (since concern is high).
    • Provide a clear explanation of what the county and regional authorities are already doing and where gaps remain.
Question 2: “Which of the following water-related issues most concern you personally?”
When respondents were asked to pick the single water issue that worries them most, unchecked growth rose to the top. Nineteen of the 51 participants (about 37%) selected “new development and its impact on water,” making it the clear front-runner. The next-largest cluster—ten people (20%)—focused on declining groundwater levels, a problem closely tied to growth but phrased in hydrologic terms.
 
Concerns about water quality or contamination followed at six responses, while fears over each respondent’s future household supply and the environmental impacts on wildlife drew five apiece. Only small handfuls pointed to watering restrictions, lack of public communication, or “all of the above.”
 
Taken together, the results show that residents view population and construction pressures—not just drought—as the primary drivers of Kerr County’s water challenges.
 
Key take-aways
  1. Growth worries dominate. More than a third of residents cite new development as their top worry, surpassing even groundwater decline. Any policy discussion should address land-use planning and permitting.
  2. Groundwater decline is the clear runner-up. One in five respondents focus on falling aquifer levels—closely related to the first concern—suggesting that growth-groundwater linkage will resonate.
  3. Quality matters too. A combined 21% emphasize either contamination or environmental impacts, signaling support for stricter monitoring and watershed protection.
  4. Action implications.
    • Pair growth-management strategies (e.g., limits on high-water-use developments) with groundwater-sustainability data.
    • Frame conservation proposals as tools to mitigate growth pressure and protect water quality.
Question 3: “Do you feel local leaders and agencies are doing enough to protect water resources in our area?”
Confidence in local water stewardship is strikingly weak. Out of 51 respondents, only two people—just under 4%--believe that local leaders and agencies are doing enough to safeguard Kerr County’s water resources. A slim majority, 27 respondents (53%), say “no,” while nearly as many--22 respondents (43%)—are “unsure.”
 
The high “unsure” share suggests many residents may simply lack information about existing efforts, but the combined 96% who are either doubtful or unconvinced highlights a serious credibility and communication gap for public officials.
 
Key take-aways
  1. Majority lack confidence. Over half believe leadership is not doing enough, and another 43% are unsure. Only a sliver express satisfaction.
  2. Opportunity for transparency. The large “unsure” segment suggests many residents simply don’t know what’s being done—pointing to a communication gap.
  3. Action implications.
    • Provide a concise overview of existing county/municipal initiatives—fill the information void.
    • Provide concrete metrics on progress (e.g., gallons conserved, enforcement actions).
    • Invite local officials to outline next-step commitments and timelines, demonstrating responsiveness to the 53 % who feel current efforts fall short.
Question 4: “What actions would you support to help conserve water in Kerr County?”
Asked which conservation measures they would actively support, respondents once again targeted growth first: “Limits on new high-water-use development” drew 17 endorsements—roughly one-third of all coded selections.
 
Tied for second place were two complementary tools: incentives for rainwater harvesting or xeriscaping and stricter oversight of large water users, with eight supporters each.
 
Mid-tier backing clustered around public education campaigns and mandatory watering restrictions (six apiece), while investment in alternative water sources and an explicit “all of the above” option each attracted four votes. A lone comment promoted soil-health practices along the river.
 
Taken together, the pattern shows residents favor a balanced approach: curb thirsty new development, couple rebates with tougher enforcement for big users, and bolster these efforts with education and targeted restrictions rather than relying on any single tactic.
 
Key take-aways
  1. Growth limits still top the list. Echoing earlier questions, residents put the brakes on high-water-use development first.
  2. DIY conservation incentives resonate. Equal support for rebates or tax credits for rainwater harvesting and xeriscaping—and for stricter policing of major users—shows residents want both carrot and stick.
  3. Education & enforcement matter. Mid-tier backing for public education campaigns and mandatory watering rules suggests a readiness for broader behavior change—if paired with information and oversight.
  4. Portfolio approach is welcome. Four respondents explicitly said “All of the above,” signaling a faction open to any and all measures.

1 Growth & new development

Why isn’t new development limited or halted until the water crisis subsides (e.g., no lawns, drought-resistant planting, no lawn watering)?
  • State law keeps moratoria short and tightly constrained. A Texas city may adopt a development moratorium only if it documents an impending shortage of “essential public facilities” (water, wastewater, roads). Even then, the moratorium expires after 120 days unless the city holds another public hearing and re-issues written findings. FindLaw Texas Statutes
  • Kerrville is relying on a long-range supply portfolio rather than a standing moratorium. The 2018 Long Range Water Supply Plan and subsequent updates call for a mix of Guadalupe River surface water, Trinity aquifer wells, and an aquifer-storage-and-recovery (ASR) program that already banks >1 billion gallons—about one year of current demand. kerrvilletx.gov
  • The City of Kerrville has a Conjunctive Use Policy, and as such 90% of their water comes from other sources besides native ground water, as is the area outside the city limits. The City of Kerrville only went to a higher stage to support HGCD. Their Drought Management Plan does not call for these measures listed in the question until a higher stage is achieved.
  • Short-term shortages are managed through staged drought rules. Kerrville moved to Stage 3 restrictions in May 2024, tightening outdoor watering limits while it monitors river flows and ASR storage. kerrvilletx.gov
If the City keeps approving growth, how will all new properties be required to install rain-harvesting and A/C-condensate catchment?

  • Current status – encouraged, not mandated. Kerrville’s building code (§26-32) allows rainwater-harvesting (RWH) systems and references state health standards, but it does not yet make RWH or condensate capture compulsory. Municode Library
  • Incentives already exist. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) offers county-wide rebates up to $500 per address for qualifying RWH equipment, and the city/UGRA have leveraged LCRA community grants to install demonstration systems downtown. ugra.org LCRA
  • What would have to change. Council could amend the plumbing or development code to require RWH on new construction—other Hill Country cities have done so—provided the rule passes the same public notice procedures used for any local ordinance.
Does the City have a 3- or 5-mile ETJ where City water, growth, and development rules apply?

  • No. Kerrville’s statutory ETJ is 1 mile. For a city with 5,000 – 24,999 residents, Texas Local Government Code §42.021 sets the ETJ at 1 mile beyond corporate limits Upon surpassing 25,000 residents, the radius will expand to two miles automatically under § 42.021 (a)(3). Texas Statutes
  • The city’s own GIS layer confirms the 1-mile ETJ. Kerrville’s 2025 ArcGIS dataset labels it “current 1-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction.” gisportal-kerrvilletx.hub.arcgis.com
  • Development outside that ring falls under Kerr County regulations (and special districts such as groundwater GCDs), not city subdivision or water use ordinances.
How does the city plan to balance rapid population growth with a finite water supply?
  • Supply diversification. Surface water rights, Trinity aquifer wells, and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells form a three-legged supply that can be expanded.  One component of the long range plan is underway, and the city has added Ellenberger aquifer wells to its supply system. kerrvilletx.govkerrvilletx.gov
  • Demand management. Increased water conservation management and efforts are also important components of the city’s long-range plan.  Stage-based drought rules, tiered water-rate blocks, and seasonal education campaigns (see Water Conservation Initiative) aim to reduce per-capita use. kerrvilletx.govkerrvilletx.gov
  • Regional coordination. TWDB’s 2024 Kerr County summary flags additional future potential strategies—reclaimed-water expansion, ASR wells, municipal water conservation and groundwater desalination as “feasible and cost-effective” for meeting 50-year demand. Texas Water Development Board

Taken together, these measures increase water supply resources and address peak demand concerns.  Conservation is key; living within our available water volume is essential.
Why are water-intensive businesses (e.g., golf courses, bottling plants) allowed while residents face restrictions? [Note: Kerrville does not have bottling plants]

  • Irrigation reuse offsets part of that load. Kerrville’s Water Reclamation Division delivers ≈ 200 million gallons/yr of reclaimed effluent for commercial irrigation—including golf courses—so that potable water is not the primary source. kerrvilletx.gov
  • Higher-tier rates and Stage restrictions still apply. Commercial meters that exceed 50,000 gallons/month pay steeper volumetric charges, and Stage 3 rules restrict all irrigation days/times, regardless of user type. Municode Library kerrvilletx.gov
  • State oversight. Any user diverting ≥ 100 acre-feet/yr of surface water must obtain a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) water rights permit and file an approved conservation plan, subject to audit and enforcement. TCEQ’s South Texas Watermaster controls surface water withdrawal in accordance with drought conditions. TCEQ
Will we ever reach a “complete solution” that ends drought watering restrictions for good?
  • ASR and portfolio supplies buy time, not immunity. Banking river water underground sharply reduces evaporative loss and cushions multi-year droughts, but Kerrville still reduced its system capacity from 6 mgd to 4.5 mgd during 2024 drought conditions—illustrating that extreme events can outpace even diversified supplies. San Antonio Express-News
  • Long-term resilience depends on both new sources and permanent efficiency gains. The city’s 100-year plan models growth scenarios: under high-growth assumptions, additional wells, expanded reuse, and stricter landscape standards are still required to avoid future Stage restrictions. kerrvilletx.gov
  • Bottom line: No Hill Country city can guarantee “no future restrictions,” but Kerrville’s supply plan plus stronger conservation measures (see Questions 2 & 4) can push those restrictions to be rarer, shorter, and less severe.

2 Comprehensive conservation programs & incentives

When will the City launch a serious, comprehensive Water Conservation Program with incentives and restrictions?
  • It is already on the books but due for a 2025–26 overhaul.
    • Kerrville adopted a Water Conservation Plan (WCP) in 2014 and posts an “adopted plan” link on its Water Conservation Initiative page. Kerrville is currently in discussions with an outside consultant, but a new policy/program has not been released yet; they anticipated it in winter of 2025. Kerrville
    • Under Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) rules, every municipal supplier must review and re-file its WCP every five years by May 1. Kerrville submitted interim updates with each drought-stage change and must file its next full revision in spring 2026. Texas Water Development Board
    • City staff have already placed the WCP revision on the FY 25 work calendar (per April 2025 council workshop notes); public hearings will begin once the draft is released this winter.
What conservation steps are most likely to win community acceptance?
  • Pair rebates (“carrots”) with targeted restrictions (“sticks”). Studies of Texas and California utilities show mandatory outdoor watering limits plus rebates for retrofits generate the deepest, most durable savings—18 – 30 % annually—while voluntary appeals alone see “no statistically significant savings.” AWE kicked off 2020 with the release of a major new research study entitled the Use and Effectiveness of Municipal Irrigation Restrictions During Drought.  AWE
  • Local precedent matters. San Antonio Water System’s (SAWS) mix of lawn rebate coupons, tiered rates, and Stage-based restrictions has saved >1 trillion gal since 1994, and polls there routinely show >70 % customer approval. San Antonio Water System
  • Visible fairness boosts buy-in. Case studies from AWE and TWDB find acceptance rises when restrictions apply equally across residential and commercial users and when enforcement data are published. Overall, shows that mandatory restrictions that are enforced and apply equally to residents and commercial customers have higher compliance with conservation of water resources.  AWE Kerrville
What practical ways can households save water in everyday activities?
The City, UGRA, and the state already promote a “starter kit” of proven tactics—most cost ≤ $50.
Household action
Typical savings
Source
Install WaterSense showerhead & 1.5 gpm aerators
2,700 gal / yr
takecareoftexas.org
Repair silent toilet leaks
500–4,000 gal / month
Find Leaks
Use TWDB’s “Water My Yard” email to set sprinkler runtimes
15–20 % lawn use
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Collect roof runoff in a 55-gal barrel (UGRA rebate up to $500)
600 gal / 1″ rain on 1,000 ft² roof
Innovative Water Solutions LLCtakecareoftexas.org
Shift car washing & patio cleaning from hose to bucket/broom
100 gal / wash
Kerrville
What specific measures can restaurants, grocery stores, and other public-facing businesses adopt?
Various sectors can adopt the following measures:
Sector
High-return retrofits & BMPs
Evidence
Restaurants & commercial kitchens
▸ Replace pre-rinse spray valves with 1.1 gpm WaterSense models
▸ ENERGY STAR dishwashers & steamers
▸ Flow-on-demand dipper-well valves
EPA case study shows 70 % cut in kitchen water and $1,200 / yr energy savings. US EPA
Grocery & food retail
▸ Night flush floor cleaning with auto-shutoff nozzles
▸ Rooftop rain capture for landscape irrigation
▸ “Smart” mist case defrost cycles
AWE grocery pilots in Texas/CA achieved 18 – 30 % total demand drop. AWE
Lodging & entertainment
▸ Linen-reuse opt-in (+ low flow laundry nozzles)
▸ Audit pools/fountains for leak & splash losses
SAWS commercial rebate program cites median 25 % indoor savings. San Antonio Water System
Should multiple, overlapping conservation measures (“all of the above”) be pursued simultaneously?
  • Yes—layering drives the biggest, fastest savings. Multi-measure utilities in drought studies reduced peak demand 20 – 42 % within two summers, whereas single measure programs averaged <10 %. AWE
  • Complementarity matters:
  • Cost–benefit: Layered programs typically cost the utility $150–$300 per acre-foot saved, far below the $800–$1,200 / AF price of new groundwater wells (TWDB cost curves). Texas Water Development Board

3 Oversight of Large Water Users & Equity

How much of Kerrville’s water goes to households versus big users like golf courses or bottling plants?
Customer class (PWS ID 1330001, CY-2023*)
Million gal
Share
Single-family & multi-family taps
721 MG
≈ 61%
General commercial & institutional
274 MG
≈ 23%
Landscape irrigation (mostly golf courses & athletic fields)
63 MG
≈ 5%
Industrial / wholesale (e.g., bottling, aggregate washing)
50 MG
≈ 4%
Non-revenue (fire, flushing, leaks, etc.)
74 MG
≈ 7%
Total water produced
1 182 MG
100%
*Source: TWDB “PWS Water Use Data” dashboard → City of Kerrville (PWS ID 1330001), “Categorical Use & Connections,” 2023 report year. Texas Water Development Board
 
Key points
  • Roughly 3/5 of all potable water is household demand; large commercial/industrial users together account for about 1 gal out of every 4.
  • Golf courses are irrigated mainly with reclaimed effluent (243 MG in FY 2024), which is not included in potable totals above. Kerrville
If most use is concentrated in a few businesses, how can we incentivize—or compel—them—to do better?
Tool
How it works in Kerrville
Evidence
Tiered “super-user” rates
Commercial meters above 50 k gal / month jump from the base block to double the volumetric rate, sending a price signal to conserve.
See 2025 Fee-Schedule Resolution (water-rate table). Kerrville
Mandatory conservation plans
Any entity diverting ≥ 100 acre-ft / yr ( ≈ 32 MG) must file a TCEQ-approved Water-Conservation Plan and annual progress reports; failure can void a water rights permit.
30 TAC §288 rules & TCEQ Form 10218. TCEQ
Reuse contract clauses
Golf clubs and sports complexes that receive reclaimed water sign City contracts capping daily withdrawals and requiring quarterly usage logs.
City Water-Reclamation program page. Kerrville
Irrigation efficiency audits
Large turf accounts (>5 acres) must submit irrigation audit results whenever Stage 3 restrictions are in force; non-compliance = loss of reuse supply.
Stage 3 notice, § 110-37. Kerrville
Public score-cards (proposed)
Publishing the top 20 commercial users each summer (as San Antonio Water System does) creates peer pressure and has cut peak demand 8%.
SAWS case study in AWE Utility Benchmarking.
How can TCEQ and the City actually stop violators — especially deep pocket ones?
  • Graduated fines + shut-offs. Under Kerrville Code §110-38, violating Stage rules can bring $50 – $2 000 per offense and water service disconnection after a second citation. Kerrville
  • Civil & criminal enforcement by TCEQ. The agency can issue administrative penalties up to $25 000 / day, refer egregious cases to the Attorney General, and place liens on property until penalties are paid (TWC §7.052).
  • Permit leverage. For surface-water permittees, TCEQ can suspend or amend a water right for failure to implement its conservation plan or for wasting water (TWC §11.134 & 30 TAC §288). TCEQ
  • Guadalupe Watermaster spot checks. Large diverters on the Guadalupe basin (which includes Kerr Co.) are subject to unannounced meter inspections; repeat offenders risk court-ordered injunctions stopping pumping within 72 hours. TCEQ
 
Take-aways.
  1. Show the numbers – Most water is residential, but commercial “super-users” are visible in the data.
  2. Explain existing levers – Tiered rates, mandatory conservation plans, and Stage-rule fines already apply equally; reclaimed water further reduces potable demand.
  3. Invite feedback on stronger options – e.g., publishing a summer “heavy-user scoreboard” or tightening the trigger for irrigation audits.
  4. Reinforce enforcement – Outline how residents can report violations and what penalties follow.

4 Rainwater Harvesting & Alternative Water Supplies

Could Kerrville or Kerr County require rain-harvesting cisterns and drought-tolerant landscaping on new construction?
What the law says:
Texas Local Government Code §580.004 encourages cities and counties to promote rainwater harvesting “through incentives or ordinances,” and expressly allows them to write stricter local codes. Texas Statutes

What other Hill Country cities do:
• Wimberley: The City of Wimberley requires all homebuilders and developers building new single family residential homes to provide a rainwater harvesting option to prospective buyers. Hill Country Alliance
• Bee Cave & Dripping Springs require RWH for large-lot subdivisions in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Municode Library

What Kerrville does now
Kerrville’s building code (§26-32) currently permits rain-harvesting and references the TCEQ plumbing standard (30 TAC §290.44) but does not mandate it. Municode Library
​
Bottom line: Council could amend Chapter 26 to (a) require a minimum cistern capacity per roof square foot, (b) set plant palette rules (e.g., only native/low-water species), and (c) use fee waivers or density bonuses to offset builder cost—exactly the approach Wimberley codified in 2019.
Can school districts tap grants or bonds for cisterns and native plant landscapes?
Funding source
Typical award & match
Eligibility for schools
Example
LCRA Community Development Partnership Program
Up to $50 000 (no local match minimum)
Public schools in LCRA’s service area (Kerr Co. qualifies)
2023: $5 000 granted for a downtown Kerrville cistern demo. LCRA
TWDB “Green Project Reserve” (within Clean/Drinking Water SRF)
0% – 1% loans; up to 30% forgiveness for green infrastructure projects
Political subdivisions, incl. ISDs
Reilly Elementary (Austin ISD) retrofitted with cisterns & bioswales via GPR funds. Texas Water Development Board Texas A&M AgriLife
UGRA Rainwater Harvesting Grants
$5 000–$15 000 matching
Any Kerr County public or nonprofit entity
Schools have previously drawn UGRA funds for classroom cisterns. UGRA
Voter-approved school bonds
Local tax-backed; no cap if voters approve
Capital items that “improve buildings or pay for equipment” (Texas Educ. Code §45)
Several Hill Country ISDs (e.g., Johnson City ISD) have included RWH tanks in recent bond packages (2022).
Besides rainwater, what alternative onsite sources make sense here?
Option
Kerr County precedent or Texas rule
Typical yield
A/C condensate capture
Travis County Courthouse pipes rooftop air-handler condensate to toilets and cooling tower makeup—saving 2 million gal/yr. Austin Texas
≈ 0.1 gal per ton-hour of cooling; a 10-ton school unit can supply ≈ 36 000 gal/yr.
Graywater reuse
Texas allows subsurface irrigation of residential graywater ≤ 400 gal/day without a TCEQ permit if installed per 30 TAC §210 Subchapter F. TCEQ
25–40% of indoor use (showers, laundry) → ~25 gal/person/day that never hits the potable line.
Onsite non-potable reuse for new commercial/multi-family
Austin code (effective Dec 2023) now requires onsite reuse (rain + condensate + foundation drain) for projects >250,000 ft²—an emerging Hill Country template. WGI
Value
Stormwater “green infrastructure”
TWDB Green Reserve classifies cistern-fed rain gardens and infiltration basins as fully “green,” qualifying them for principal forgiveness. Texas Water Development Board
Feasibility in Kerr County:
  • Condensate and graywater reuse are legal under statewide plumbing rules; the City would only need modest code amendments (cross-connection inspection & backflow requirements already exist in §26-32).
  • Pairing cisterns with native, deep-rooted landscapes closes the loop—plants withstand drought, and the capture area doubles as infiltration, reducing runoff loads on the river.
 
Quick actions for local leaders
  1. Code workshop – Draft a rain harvest / native landscape ordinance using Wimberley and Austin language as templates; hold stakeholder review this fall.
  2. Grant calendar – Align ISD and nonprofit applications with LCRA’s next grant window (July 1–31, 2025) and TWDB’s FY-26 SRF “Intended Use Plan” call (opens January).
  3. Pilot projects – Showcase A/C condensate recovery at a city facility (e.g., Cailloux Theater) and publish real-time yield data online to build public confidence.

5 Groundwater Levels & River Flow

How much does water use in other parts of Texas affect our aquifers and the Guadalupe/Llano Rivers?
  • Hydraulic connection is basin-wide. The Edwards-Trinity Plateau aquifer under Kerr County spreads across ≈ 37f,000 mi² of west-central Texas; water levels respond to pumping anywhere along that flow system. Texas Water Development Board
  • Regional drawdown lowers spring and base-river flow. TWDB’s Guadalupe River Basin profile notes that “over-pumping of the underlying aquifers has led to reduced base flows in the Guadalupe River and its tributaries,” with cities as far away as San Antonio contributing to the decline. Texas Water Development Board
  • Planning data echo the link. Region J’s 2021 Water Plan flags “decreased streamflow that can be attributed to a decrease in base flow due to increased groundwater pumping” basin-wide. Texas Water Development Board
 
Take-away: Pumping beyond county lines does propagate pressure changes through the aquifer, trimming the spring-fed share of Guadalupe/Llano river flow that sustains Kerr County.
How does water in the aquifer ‘know’ the difference between a city well and a county well?
It doesn’t—groundwater follows physics, not survey lines.
  • Groundwater moves from recharge zones to discharge points along pressure gradients, just like water in a tilted sponge. U.S. Geological Survey
  • A pumping well simply creates a cone of depression; any other well within that cone feels the drawdown regardless of who owns it. USGS calls this interconnected volume a ground-water-flow system—shared by all users tapping that aquifer. USGS​
Result: city, rural-domestic, and out-of-county wells are hydraulically linked—over-use anywhere lowers levels everywhere.
Does the City have a reliable way to measure how much water is in local storage aquifers?
Monitoring layer
What’s measured
Source
City of Kerrville – Water Production Division
Staff log tank & aquifer levels, pumping totals, and treatment parameters every shift; SCADA sensors record real-time water levels in municipal wells.
Kerrville
Headwaters GCD network
≥ 17 dedicated monitor wells in the Trinity aquifer; HGCD posts monthly water-level hydrographs and uses the average of key wells to trigger county drought stages.
Texas Water Development Board Headwaters GCD
ASR observation wells
Kerrville’s aquifer-storage-and-recovery (ASR) system includes three monitoring wells around Wells R-1 & No. 5 to track pressure and chloride migration.
Texas Water Development Board
TWDB statewide network
All readings funnel into the Groundwater Database (GWDB), giving the public a long-term archive of Kerr County water levels.
Texas Water Development Board
Reliability safeguards
  • Calibrated pressure transducers with quarterly manual tape checks (HGCD SOP).
  • Data uploaded to TWDB’s QA/QC portal; anomalies flagged for re-check.
 
Bottom line: Kerrville and HGCD maintain redundant, instrumented wells feeding state audited databases—so officials have a strong, continuous “fuel-gauge” on local aquifer storage.
 
What this means for residents
  • Regional cooperation matters: Solutions require joint pumpage targets across county lines, not just local cutbacks.
  • Transparency builds trust: Publish the HGCD hydrographs and SCADA well levels monthly so residents can see trends.
  • Policy levers: HGCD can set Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) that limit regional drawdown; the City can adjust pumping between surface water, ASR, and wells to keep within those DFCs.

6 Enforcement & Regulation

Is there any real enforcement behind current watering restrictions?
Layer
Key provision
Source
City ordinance (§110-37 / Water-Management Plan)
Stage 3 limits outdoor irrigation to 1 day/week, 6–10 a.m. & 8 p.m.–midnight.
Kerrville
Penalty clause (§110-38 & cross-refs in utility code)
Each violation is “a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000 per day; repeat offenses allow the city to disconnect service.”
Kerrville
State back-stop (TCEQ)
TCEQ may levy administrative penalties ≤ $25,000 per day and can suspend a water right for “waste or failure to conserve.”
TCEQ
What penalties exist, and how often are they applied?
1 Complaint / detection
Residents, police, & code officers file reports via the “Water Violation” portal or 24-hr dispatch.
Kerrville

2 Warning notice
First offense → door-hanger + 48 hrs to correct. (Municipal Court FAQs note warnings before citations for most ordinance cases.)
Kerrville

3 Citation
Second offense → Class C ticket; fine set by the judge within $50–$2,000 band.
Kerrville
​
4 Shut-off (chronic non-pay or repeat)
Two unresolved citations in 12 months allow Public Works to turn off the meter until fees paid.
Kerrville
Does the city actually issue tickets?
  • Yes. The Municipal Court docket lists water violation cases almost every weekly session. (Example: the 24 Apr 2025 docket shows eight “WATER RESTRICTION — STAGE 3” citations.) Kerrville
  • Warning-vs-citation ratio is high. According to the public information officer quoted in Spectrum News, 16 Apr 2025, code officers had written 126 warnings and 18 citations since Stage 3 began (May 30 2024). Spectrum News

Big-stick backup: TCEQ & Watermaster
  • Kerr County sits inside the Guadalupe Watermaster region. Field agents can issue on-the-spot citations or sue for injunctions stopping pumping within 72 hrs for egregious violators. TCEQ
  • In FY-23 TCEQ statewide issued 1,023 administrative orders totaling $13.9 million in penalties; water rights cases made up a significant share. TCEQ​
How often are penalties actually collected?
  • Municipal fines are payable online; the court’s public payment portal lists active balances on 42 water restriction cases as of May 1 2025 (searchable by citation). Municipal Online Payments
  • TCEQ reports a 98 % collection rate on administrative orders once they reach the Attorney General. TCEQ
Options to strengthen enforcement
​
  1. Publish a monthly “Top 20 water users” scoreboard (as SAWS does) to add peer pressure transparency.
  2. Lower the repeat-offender trigger from two citations to one during Stage 3–4 drought.
  3. Adopt escalating block rates for irrigation meters > 25 k gal/mo (now 50 k gal).
  4. Cross-deputize county constables to write Stage citations in ETJ neighborhoods.
 
Bottom line: Kerrville already has legal teeth—fines, shut-offs, watermaster injunctions—and is using them (126 warnings / 18 tickets in the first 10 months of Stage 3). The town hall can focus on whether residents want faster escalation or more public visibility of violators rather than brand-new regulations.

7 Education & Public Awareness

Why isn’t there stronger public education on water issues?
What’s in place today
Reach & evidence
What’s still missing
UGRA classroom & community program – staff deliver watershed lessons, groundwater-model demos, and stream clean-ups year-round.
Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) “Outreach & Education” page. UGRA
No unified calendar that rolls City + UGRA + nonprofits into one easy feed.
“EduScape” xeriscape-trail on Lehmann Dr. – free self-guided signage shows native plants, pervious paving, and a working cistern.
UGRA EduScape description. UGRA
Signage is static; add QR codes linking to plant lists, rebates, and watering calculators.
Monthly water column in local papers—written by UGRA scientists.
UGRA Education Center page lists archives. UGRA
No Spanish-language edition; archives aren’t cross-posted to City social feeds.
City Water Conservation Initiative website – drought-stage alerts, tip sheets, rebate forms.
City site. Kerrville
Buried three clicks deep; needs push-notifications or SMS opt-in.
Hill Country Master Gardeners demo garden + workshops – free tours of low-water landscapes; quarterly plant-sale “pop-ups.”
Demo-garden page & events calendar. Hill Country Texas Master Gardeners
Program notices stay within gardening circles; partnering with schools and HOAs would multiply reach.
City video tours – 21-min virtual walk-through of the Water Reclamation Facility streamed on Civic Media.
Kerrville Civic Media “Water Reclamation Facility Tour.” Kerrville
Viewed <1 000 times in three years; promote via Facebook/Nextdoor every drought stage change.
Media reminders during drought alerts – local news pushes City guidance on watering practices (Guadalupe River low-flow story, Apr 2025).
MySA Hill Country report. MySA
Coverage spikes only when flows crash; need evergreen content, not crisis-only.
Why the perception of a gap?
Education efforts are scattered across several agencies, websites, and volunteer groups—so most residents never see the full picture. A single branded campaign (logo, hashtag, calendar, SMS list) would knit these pieces together.
How are the City and County setting a conservation example on their own properties and public spaces?
Municipal / county asset
Water smart practice / Source
Sports Complex, golf courses, & school fields
Irrigated with reclaimed effluent—not potable water—via a dedicated reuse main maintained by the Water Reclamation Division. Kerrville
City ordinance for businesses it regulates
Lodging facilities connected to City water must run a linen-reuse program; large turf sites must accept irrigation audits under Stage 3. Municode Library
Demo landscapes on public land
UGRA EduScape (125 Lehmann Dr.) and Master Gardener Demo Garden (Tx AgriLife campus) both feature native, low-water planting schemes open 24/7. UGRA Hill Country Texas Master Gardeners
Water Reclamation Facility tour & STEM visits
The City of Kerrville hosts in-person tours for schools, plus the on-line video cited above. Kerrville
Drought-stage compliance on City parks & medians
Stage rules apply equally to municipal irrigation; sprinkler days/times cut in half when Stage 3 triggered (May 2024). MySA
Closing the visibility gap—three quick wins
  1. Unified outreach hub – Embed the UGRA calendar, rebate links, and demo-garden map into the City’s drought-stage alert banner; add a bilingual SMS opt-in for event reminders.
  2. Quarterly “Water-Wise Spotlight” – Rotate tours of EduScape, the demo garden, and reclaimed-water sports fields; stream live on Facebook, archive on the CivicMedia channel.
  3. Metrics scoreboard – Post monthly stats (gallons of reclaimed water used, rainfall captured at EduScape, workshop attendance) so residents see results, not just rules.

8 Soil Health & Native Landscaping

What ideas can encourage people to improve soil health and use native plants so we hold more water on the land?
Below are seven proven, local-ready strategies—each paired with a real‐world Hill Country example or incentive so neighbors see that it already works here.
 
1> Provide information on soil-health kits at rain barrel events
1% of organic matter in the top six inches of soil would hold approximately 27,000 gallons of water per acre. NRCS USDA
• City or County could partner with Hill Country Master Gardeners to distribute compost or mulch coupons when residents purchase rain barrels.

2> Stage “Seeing-is-Believing” demo gardens
People adopt best when they can touch it.
• Riverside Nature Center (Kerrville) showcases deep-rooted native beds and a functioning rain garden visitors can copy at home. riversidenaturecenter.org
• UGRA has a self-guided landscape tour that has examples of plant choices and rainwater catchment methods. 125 Lehmann Drive (Kerrville). UGRA

3> Leverage NRCS cost-share for larger acreages
USDA will pay 60–75 % of approved practices that reduce runoff or improve infiltration under the EQIP Soil-Health Bundle. Natural Resources Conservation Service
• NRCS Texas – “Additional FY 2023 Funding Opportunity for the Hill Country Headwaters Conservation Initiative RCPP Project.” The notice (carried forward for FY-24 contracts) invites landowners in the seven target watersheds to apply for financial assistance “to improve water quality … increase soil cover and restore native plant communities.” nrcs.usda.gov
• NRCS Texas FY-24 EQIP/RCPP Payment Schedule (PDF). Page 21 lists Practice 327 – Conservation Cover, Native Species with Forgone Income at $349.90 per acre (or $387.22 / acre for historically underserved applicants) — the specific payment used to help landowners convert turf to native grasses and forbs under RCPP contracts. nrcs.usda.gov

4> Host “Native Plant Pop-Up” sales & design workshops
Removing the search cost (Which plants? Where to buy?) boosts adoption.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center runs quarterly pop-up markets—Kerrville could replicate these at the Library plaza with wholesale growers. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

5> Create a voluntary “Water-Wise Yard” certification
Yard signs & map-based shout-outs tap neighborhood pride and social proof.
• Hill Country Alliance supplies templates; Boerne’s program certified 250+ yards in three years, dropping median irrigation 25 %. Hill Country Alliance

6> Require native & low-water palettes in new subdivisions
Cities that mandate native cover see 10–20 % lower peak-day demand in new builds versus older turf districts. (Wildflower Center One-Water research). Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• Kerrville can insert Wimberley’s 2019 ordinance language straight into Chapter 26, tying compliance to plat approval. Natural Resources Conservation Service

7> Learn more about native plants
Enables better landscape design and plant choices.
Kerrville Native Plant Society of Texas has monthly programs. Kerville NPSOT

Action items.
  1. Show the numbers – A single 500 ft² prairie (native) bed can save ≈ 7 000-gal yr⁻¹ compared with irrigated turf and a ¼-inch compost top-dressing saves another ≈ 2 000 gal on the same area. Austin Water Lower Colorado River Authority
  1. Handout – include UGRA water rebate and grant information, EQIP one-pager, and a native-plant list adapted from Texas A&M AgriLife. The Kerrville Native Plant Society of Texas also has an excellent brochure that is specific to our area.
  1. Demo sign-ups – pass a clipboard for a Saturday tour at Riverside Nature Center and a fall compost-top-dressing workshop.
  2. Policy ask – gauge support for adding a native-landscape or maximum turf percentage requirement in our cities and county subdivision codes.

9 Infrastructure Capacity & Cost Security

If drought persists for several more years, what can households on Aqua (or other private suppliers) do to offset rising costs or even secure water?
Option
What it delivers
Where to start
Sign up for a customer-assistance discount
Aqua’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and “Aqua Aid” grant can trim $20–$40 per month from qualifying low-income bills.
Aqua CAP info page. Aqua Water
Apply for the state’s LIHWAP relief
One-time grant up to $2,400 paid directly to the water company; income ≤ 150 % of federal poverty line.
Texas Dept. of Housing & Comm. Affairs LIHWAP portal. Texas Housing Agency LIHWAP
Convert high-flow fixtures
Replacing two toilets + two shower heads cuts ≈ 6,000 gal yr⁻¹, shaving $90–$110 / yr at Aqua’s new Stage-3 rate ($15.70 per 1,000 gal tier-3).
EPA WaterSense + Aqua tariff. US EPA Aqua Water
Capture roof runoff
A 3,000-gal cistern off a 1,500 ft² roof supplies ~34,000 gal/yr—> you buy 20 % less treated water. UGRA rebate covers up to $500 of the hardware.
UGRA rebate info. Texas Water Development Board
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Band together for a PUC rate protest
When Aqua filed PUC Docket 55577 (2024 rate increase), protests from 1,100 Kerr Co. customers triggered a settlement hearing that shaved the SIC surcharge 18%.
PUC filing site. Interchange
Bottom line: Customers are not helpless—fixture swaps, rain-capture rebates, and organized rate protests all trim exposure while drought pushes wholesale costs up.
Do we have long-range wastewater and clean-water capacity planning to keep up with growth?
Evidence that capacity is planned
Key findings
Source
Water & Wastewater Master Plan Update (Oct 2022)
• Projects $96 million in water-plant, ASR, and pipe upgrades through 2042.
• Adds a 4 MGD parallel membrane-treatment train at the Water Reclamation Facility by 2030, lifting total treatment capacity to 9 MGD—enough for a population of ≈ 46,000.
City Master-Plan portal (Volumes 1-2). Kerrville
Capital-Improvement-Plan (CIP) dashboard
Shows 24 active or funded water/wastewater projects—including the $14 M River Pump Station rehab now in final design (FY-25 bid).
City ArcGIS CIP layer. ArcGIS
Region J 2021 Water Plan
Recommends Kerrville add Ellenberger-Santa Rosa wells + 3 MGD reclaimed-water expansion to meet 2070 “high-growth” scenario; TWDB lists both projects as “feasible and cost-effective.”
Region J planning page & Kerr County fact sheet. Texas Water Development Board
TWDB low-interest financing already in play
Kerrville secured $1 M TWDB loan (2019) for pre-design of the new WTP train and lines, keeping debt-service costs below traditional bonds.
TWDB news release. Freese and Nichols
Are we on schedule?
  • The City Council’s FY-25 work calendar (Nov 8, 2022, agenda) aligns design-build contracts with the 2022 master-plan timetable. Kerrville
  • TWDB’s 2024 project-tracking sheet lists Kerrville as “on track” for 30 % design submittal of the new treatment train by July 2025. Texas Water Development Board
 
What could still go wrong?
  • Escalating construction costs: ENR’s Construction Cost Index rose 24 % since 2020; TWDB warns bids may exceed early budgets.
  • Supply-chain lags on membrane cartridges (12-month lead time).
  • Limited discharge capacity downstream: Reuse expansion requires a new TPDES permit amendment—public notice likely in 2026.
 
Take-away for residents: The long-range blueprint exists, is funded in phases, and is on schedule—but continued TWDB financing and timely permitting are critical to stay ahead of growth.
 
Action items.
  1. Show the numbers – Master-plan build-outs boost treatment headroom 60 % and main-line redundancy 40 %.
  2. List resident protections – CAP, LIHWAP, PUC protest rights.
  3. Highlight shared responsibility – Infrastructure keeps pace if end-users keep per-capita demand on the declining trend set by the 2022 plan (goal ≤ 120 gpcd by 2030).

10 Water Quality, Taste & Safety

Why does Kerrville’s tap water taste like chlorine—and is it safe?
Required disinfection: Kerrville adds chlorine (sometimes switched to “free-chlorine” for a short maintenance burn) to kill bacteria and viruses. 2024 Consumer Confidence Report lists average residual 1.7 ppm, range 0.4–3.0 ppm, well below EPA’s 4 ppm safety cap. Kerrville

Seasonal swings: Warm, river water, summer algae, or a system-wide “free-chlorine conversion” can drive the dose a little higher for a few weeks, making taste/odor more noticeable. Utility explains this in its chlorination Q&A and Stage-notice posts. netmwd.com

Long pipe runs: Neighborhoods furthest from the treatment plant (e.g., airport area) hold water longer, so residual chlorine decays into by-products and the remaining free chlorine smells stronger when you first run the tap. TTHM notice maps the far-end line and explains longer residence time. Kerrville

Quick fix at home: fill a pitcher and let it chill; most free chlorine off-gasses in <30 minutes and activated-carbon fridge filters strip the rest.  Alternatively, flush your faucet for 3-5 seconds.
Is the chlorine level safe?
  • Yes. EPA sets a “maximum residual disinfectant level” (MRDL) of 4.0 ppm; Kerrville’s 2024 average is 1.7 ppm with a high of 3.0 ppm — all in compliance. Kerrville
  • Why so high at all? A measurable residual is legally required as the final barrier against microbes as water travels through 200+ miles of pipe. (See EPA/TCEQ MRDL rule.)
What about disinfection by-products (TTHMs, HAAs)? Is any other contaminant of concern?
Metric
2024 highest value
EPA limit / Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)
87 ppb (airport sampling point, Q1 2024 LRAA)
80 ppb / ​Violation — small zone
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
27 ppb
60 ppb / In compliance
Is any other contaminant of concern?
  • 2024 CCR shows no violations for lead, copper, nitrate, radioactivity, or bacteria. Kerrville
  • Kerrville’s finished-water turbidity stayed at 0.17 NTU max, far cleaner than the 1 NTU EPA ceiling, indicating effective filtration. Kerrville
 
What the City is doing next
  1. More GAC change-outs and a pilot advanced-oxidation process to cut TTHM precursors.
  2. Looping the “dead-end” airport main into a second feed so water turns over faster.
  3. Quarterly CCR dashboard on the Water-Production web page, so residents can track residual chlorine and by-products in near-real-time.
​
Take-aways for residents
  • Taste ≠ danger: A bleachy flavor means protective chlorine is present but still <4 ppm; simple chilling/filtration removes it.
  • System met all health-based standards in 2024 except a localized TTHM exceedance now under corrective action.
  • Questions? Call Water Records (830-258-1504) for a free usage data-log or the Public Works lab for a grab-sample of your tap.
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