The City of Dallas is beginning mandatory outdoor watering restrictions for its residents beginning on Monday, December 12. This is a preemptive measure for the city; the reservoirs are less than 25-percent depleted but meteorologists and climatologists are predicting the current drought will continue until at least summer 2012. The North Texas Municipal Water District already went into Stage 3 on November 1.

The biggest aspect of Stage 1 restrictions is that home owners are only allowed to water their lawns twice a week. Fortunately for home owners, winter is just about upon Dallas, so lawns won't be needing as much water as they would during the summer. Experts agree that two days of watering is more than enough for a lawn, even during the summer months. When grass goes dormant, it requires only an inch of water per month.

Homeowners that have an address that ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) can water their lawns on Sundays and Thursdays. Those that have an address that ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may water their lawns on Saturdays and Wednesdays. And finally, those without an address number can water on Sundays and Thursdays.

For more information and to learn about the city's drought contingency plans, check out the City of Dallas website.