PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Contact

Phil Dyer April 15, 2011 Mark Israelson
Mayor
Assistant City Manager
972-941-5112
Lee Dunlap
Mayor Pro Tem

Pat Miner Plano Initiates Stage 1 Voluntary Water Conservation Measures

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem

Ben Harris Effective April 19, 2011 the City of Plano is initiating Stage 1 of its Drought
Place 2
Contingency Plan, calling for voluntary water conservation measures to meet the
André Davidson regional goal of a two percent reduction in the amount of water consumed in the
Place 3 North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). The action is in response to the
Lissa Smith NTMWD initiation of its Stage 1 Water Conservation and Drought Contingency and
Place 4 Water Emergency Response Plan, setting the April 19 effective date.
Harry LaRosiliere
Place 5 Stage 1 of the NTMWD plan is being implemented as a result of invasive zebra
mussels found in Lake Texoma, which supplements approximately 22.5 percent of
Jean Callison
Place 7 the District’s water supply. “Although zebra mussels are not harmful to humans and
do not contaminate the water supply, they do attach to water facilities and pipes that
pump water causing increased operating and maintenance costs,” said Jim Parks,
NTMWD Executive Director. Curtailing water distribution from Texoma decreases
Bruce D. Glasscock chances for the mussels to travel through the pumping system, damaging
City Manager
operational equipment and invading Lake Lavon, the region’s primary water source.

“The reduction of nearly one quarter of the water supply to our North Texas region
calls for a united effort in voluntary water usage reduction by all cities served by the
District,” said Assistant City Manager Mark Israelson. “We are increasing our
educational effort to encourage voluntary water conservation throughout the region.”

Stage 1 of Plano’s Drought Contingency Plan calls for increased public awareness of
potential drought or water emergency problems, with a water use reduction of two
percent in the amount of water produced by NTMWD. “We anticipate drought
conditions progressing throughout the summer which may lead the District to declare
Stage 2 of the drought plan. We are hopeful our actions in Stage 1, in conjunction
with other NTMWD member cities throughout the region, will prevent or delay the
implementation of Stage 2 restrictions,” said Mr. Israelson. Stage 2 restricts outdoor
water usage to specific days and hours, and curtails certain outdoor governmental
activities and the filling of residential swimming pools, among others.

P.O. Box 860358

Plano, Texas 75086-0358
972-941-7000
www.plano.gov
The City of Plano is requesting that residents do their part to protect and extend our
water supply by using only the water they need. To learn more about how to
efficiently use water around the house, residents can visit
http://www.plano.gov/water .

The City of Plano also offers educational presentations and programs about water
conservation and water quality. For more information, residents can call 972-769-
4328 or request a presentation by visiting http://livegreeninplano.obsres.com.

Created in 1954, with Plano one of ten original founding cities, the NTMWD serves over 1.5 million
people in 60 towns, cities, special utility districts and water supply corporations.

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