Stage 3 continues in Prosper, water adult education classes set

PROSPER (March 17, 2014) -- Low lake levels, increased demand, lower than expected winter rainfall and the continuing loss of water from Lake Texoma have all contributed to the temporary decision to remain in Stage 3 of the water conservation plan, says Water Conservation and Education Coordinator Tristan Cisco.

“Until further notice, the Town of Prosper will not change its water conservation posture,” she said. “Right now, residents would be in violation of the restrictions if they watered their lawn with automatic sprinkler systems more than twice a month. Once every two weeks, as we have been for the last several months, is where we’re staying until we hear differently from our supplier.”

The Town purchases water from the North Texas Municipal Water District, which has been dealing with the urgency related to low water levels for the last several years.

“This is a very real issue that will likely be with us for some time,” she added. “Even with the restoration of Lake Texoma, the area’s demand has grown so much, and the other feeder lakes are so low, that we will still be faced with enormous challenges to meet the demand.”

Water from Lake Texoma, infested with zebra mussels, must be harvested with its own dedicated water line, which will be completed later in the year.

In an effort to address these critical issues, the Town is partnering once again with Texas A&M Agri-Life to present a five-week adult education series on water conservation. The series is designed to provide information on a variety of topics to help residents improve their home landscapes and gardens, while still conserving water.

The first of these free classes is set for Monday, March 24, at the Prosper Community Library, 700 N. Coleman Street, starting at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be, "Creating an Environmentally Friendly Home Landscape." Residents can register for this class and others at http://www.prospertx.gov/WAVE.aspx.

Information on other upcoming classes is also available on the website.

“And, by popular demand, we will repeat a do-it-yourself class on converting a sprinkler system to a drip irrigation system,” she said. “The class will actually be presented twice, on May 8, and again on Sept. 8.”

Drip irrigation systems are not bound by the same restrictions as sprinkler systems because the underground water lines do not allow water to evaporate, there are no sprinkler heads to replace or repair, and there is never a need to realign the heads to prevent watering impermeable surfaces.

ABOUT THE TOWN OF PROSPER – The Town of Prosper is a fast-growing suburb with small town charm, located 30 miles north of Dallas at the crossroads of U.S. 380, Preston Road and the Dallas North Tollway in Collin and Denton Counties. Prosper sits on 27 square miles and is home to more than 15,000 people. A home-rule municipality, governed by a council-manager form of government, the town has full-time fire and police departments, including its own dispatch service. As the Town grows to its projected build-out population of 70,000 residents, Prosper’s vision is to remain a “Place Where Everyone Matters.”