City Council Workshop on Updating Water and Wastewater Ordinance - March 24, 2026

The City Council held a workshop on March 24, 2026, at City Hall in Kerrville, Texas, to discuss proposed updates to Chapter 110 of the Code of Ordinances regarding waterworks and wastewater systems. The workshop focused on revising fee structures, water well regulations, reclaimed water use, and water conservation stages. No public comments were received, and no formal action was taken, but the council directed staff to prepare a redlined ordinance for further review at a future workshop.

Discussion Items

• Water Main Extension Charges (Section 11033): The proposed change eliminates recovery fees and places all expenses for water main extensions inside city limits on developers, as long as they adhere to subdivision specifications.
• Extensions Outside City Limits (Sections 11034-11035): Fees will be removed and referenced to the fee schedule. A new policy for extensions outside city limits, including annexation requirements and exceptions, is being developed with the city attorney.
• Water Wells (Section 11054): Clarifications will prohibit drilling new wells inside city limits except under specific exceptions (e.g., impractical to extend utility service). Requirements will align with existing ordinances to protect nearby wells.
• Reclaimed Water Use (Sections 11057-11058): Minor language changes and fee removal are proposed, clarifying responsibilities for both the city and end users (e.g., maintaining ponds and irrigation systems).
• Water Management Plan (Article 3): The plan, previously adopted by council, will be revised to enhance purpose, coordination, and monitoring. New language emphasizes water stewardship, compliance with local/regional/state plans, and collaboration with other providers (e.g., region J).
• Year-Round Conservation Measures (Section 11093): Proposed measures include promoting drought-resistant landscaping (through AgriLife Extension and Riverside Nature Center), recommending low-impact irrigation systems, and defining essential (e.g., playgrounds) vs. non-essential (e.g., subdivision entrances) areas for watering during drought stages.
• Prohibited Uses of Water (Section 11094): A list of year-round prohibitions includes water runoff exceeding 10 feet, failing to repair leaks, watering impermeable surfaces, and irrigating with damaged sprinklers. Councilmember asked how residents should report violations; staff directed them to call code compliance or public works.n- Water Conservation Stages (Section 11097): Staff recommended eliminating the current "year-round" stage (which allowed daily watering) and instead using stage one as the baseline. Council debated whether to rename stages to avoid public perception of always being in restrictions. Councilmember Kent suggested shifting stages so that stage one becomes the year-round baseline, while others argued the naming is secondary. It was agreed to defer naming and focus on the substance. Additionally, a winter conservation period (December-February) was proposed, allowing only handheld watering, with variances available for specific needs (e.g., lawn treatment watering). Councilmember questioned the necessity, noting minimal winter irrigation; staff said it would provide an enforcement mechanism for those who water unnecessarily.
• Community Education and Coordination: Staff will coordinate with Headwaters (local water district) to post their drought stage on city notices when different from city stages. The city will continue to provide educational magnets summarizing the stages.
• Overall Approach: Councilmember expressed concern that current steps may be insufficient given a five-year drought and depleted reservoirs (e.g., Medina Lake empty, Canyon Lake down 65%). Staff acknowledged more can be done but characterized the updates as progress. The water conservation plan is also required by state every five years.

Key Outcomes

• Next Steps: Staff will return to a future workshop (tentatively next month) with a redlined version of the ordinance. After that, the ordinance will be presented for first and second readings at a regular council meeting.
• Consensus: Council broadly supported the proposed changes but requested further refinement on stage names and the winter period. No formal vote was taken.