Residents of Ridgewood Village had until Feb. 10 to give an official yea or nay to the idea of annexation by Water District 10.

Since August, the 97 homes have been restricted to 3,000 gallons of water per person, per month, with a 9,000-gallon limit placed on homes with three residents or less. These limitations originate from the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, which has been hit even harder by the drought than surface water. The conservation district wants the community off the aquifer, and Water District 10 is the closest groundwater district that could feasibly provide service.

“We’ve heard from about two-thirds of the property owners; 94 percent of those would prefer annexation,” West Lake Hills Mayor Dave Claunch said Monday.

The annexation will cost residents approximately $25,000 per household, an amount that would be financed by the water district and paid back by residents over a set amount of time through their water bills.

While the letter of intent sent out to citizens to gauge their opinions is nonbinding, it gives the water district an idea of how many of the nearly 100 homes are amenable to the idea of annexation. It outlines the plan described above, with an opt-out clause that would allow residents to eschew becoming members of Water District 10, with the caveat that they would then half to pay higher, out-of-district water rates to the district.

Residents had the opportunity in the letter to choose from three responses:

• “I would agree to voluntary annexation into WD10 provided that the circumstances and conditions outlined in the LOI remain substantially complete and intact.”

• “I would not agree to voluntary annexation into WD10 under the circumstances and conditions outlined above, and would prefer to receive water service from WD10 at the higher out-of-district rates as described in the LOI. However, I reserve my right to change my position.”

• “I have reviewed the information provided, but I prefer not to express a preference at this time.”

As of Monday, 64 of the 97 residents had responded, with 60 taking the first option and two choosing each of the latter alternatives. Water District 10 board members will discuss the letter responses at their next meeting, Feb. 17.