MARLIN (September 3, 2009)—Marlin officials imposed Stage 4 of the community’s Drought Contingency Plan, implementing severe restrictions on water use in response to a state directive to limit the amount of water diverted from the Brazos River.

Under the restrictions, residential yards may be watered only on Mondays and Thursdays before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.

Vehicles may not be washed except from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Water may not be used to wash down parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, tennis courts and other outside surfaces, and it may not be used to fill or refill any swimming pools or spas.

Marlin’s drinking water comes from two small city-owned lakes and from the Brazos River.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, however, notified the city in writing of the need either to stop diverting water from the river or to implement drought contingency restrictions.

City officials chose the latter in order to be allowed to continue to access water from the river.

The restrictions remain in place until further notice.

Violators could be fined as much as $500 and residents who violate the use rules three times or more could be disconnected from the water system, the city said.