Instead, the city is establishing short- and long-term strategies to diversify its water sources and make the best use of its assets. Officials hope to establish Irving as a major regional player in water matters.

"I want this to be unique," Mayor Herbert Gears said at a City Council work session Wednesday that centered on water plans. "I want us to be a leader in the area."

Council members and city officials discussed in the work session where the city, which is under Stage 3 water restrictions, stands in terms of its supply and sources. They also reviewed a water services contract that will ask an independent firm to assist officials in analyzing the city's water situation and potential.

Mr. Gears said he expects council members at tonight's council meeting to approve the contract, which will also have Dean International Inc. assist in drafting a water resources plan by this fall.

"We want to remain in control of our destiny," public works director Jim Cline said.

For months, Irving has been in talks with Dallas Water Utilities about the possible need to purchase significant amounts of Dallas water because Irving's primary water source, Lake Chapman in northeast Texas, is dwindling.

Recent rains added about 41/2 feet to Lake Chapman, but its level is still about 11 feet from reaching the bottom of the conversation pool, which is what Irving has rights to. If the city were to pull water from below that, it would be drawing on the sediment pool. Mr. Cline advised against getting to that point. He said that by then, the city would basically be draining the lake.

"We need to be good stewards to our neighbors and the environment," he said at the work session.

Mr. Cline told the council that the Upper Trinity Regional Water District has offered the city the option of getting about 10 million gallons a day from the proposed Lake Ralph Hall. If it's built as planned, it could be usable in about 18 years.

Mr. Cline said that although that is a ways off, he advised the council to keep that option open so the city can diversify its water sources.

"If cheap alternatives don't present themselves, we're going to wish we had something," he said.

The city is also looking at the possibility of dredging Lake Chapman. That project, which was originally estimated to cost about $1 million, is now expected to cost between $1.8 million and $2 million.

Officials are also developing an extra level of water restrictions, which they call "3+." At Level 3, watering is only allowed two days a week. At Level 4, no watering is allowed. Officials said they hope to develop "3+" to come in the middle of that and perhaps allow watering one day a week.

The city is also cracking down on outstanding balances on water bills. Mr. Cline said staffers have been aggressive in getting the total money owed down from more than $750,000 to about $382,000 in the last six months.

"It's the right thing to do," council member Sam Smith said of the efforts.

Mr. Cline said the city has not just been looking at its needs and possibilities but has researched the matter from a regional perspective to see how things will affect Irving and how the city can help water districts.

"Our approach to this has been, 'Where the region succeeds, Irving succeeds,' " he said.