Carrollton purchases treated drinking water from Dallas Water Utilities (DWU).

DWU receives water from six North Texas reservoirs:

• Lake Fork
• Lake Grapevine
• Lake Lewisville
• Lake Ray Hubbard
• Lake Ray Roberts
• Lake Tawakoni

DWU monitors the combined storage of these lakes daily.

Mandatory drought restrictions may be implemented if total reservoir storage drops below 65 percent capacity.

Water use changes throughout the year. During cooler months, overall demand is lower.

In the spring and summer, outdoor watering for lawns and landscaping increases significantly. This seasonal increase creates peak water demand across North Texas.

Seasonal watering strategies help reduce strain on water infrastructure such as pumps, pipes, and treatment systems while ensuring water remains available for essential uses.

Water conservation requirements vary across North Texas communities.

Differences may depend on:

• The water supplier serving the community
• Regional water supply levels
• Local demand patterns
• System design and infrastructure
• Weather conditions

Carrollton’s conservation strategies align with those adopted by Dallas Water Utilities, the City’s water supplier.

The length and severity of drought conditions vary. A single rainstorm rarely ends a drought.

Dry soil often absorbs the first several rain events, and water levels in regional reservoirs may take much longer to recover. Drought stages are based on reservoir storage levels rather than short term rainfall.

If drought conditions require additional conservation measures, the City will notify water customers and update this page.

Violations of mandatory watering restrictions may result in enforcement action. The City may issue a written notice for a first violation. Repeated violations may result in citations and fines as allowed by City ordinance.

The goal of enforcement is to protect the community’s water supply during periods of high demand or drought.

• First violation: Written notice of violation
  
  
• Second and subsequent violations: Citations may be issued with penalties up to $2,000 per day
  • After two violations, the City may install a flow restrictor to limit the amount of water that can pass through the service line within a 24 hour period
    
    
• After three violations, the City may terminate water service

Foundations may be watered on any day of the week during the allowed watering hours as defined in Section 4.9 of the Water Conservation Plan (page 14). Foundations may be watered with a drip irrigation system, soaker hose or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle. 

Hand watering of a flowerbed can be done at any time or on any day, but it has to be hand-held. Watering by hand indicates a person watering with a water hose or watering can. It does not mean a hose connected to a sprinkler or other device.