WATER
Cities enact emergency water restrictions amid pipe repair
During the BCRUA pipe break, Leander implemented a stricter phase of its water conservation plan. Cedar Park also enacted additional emergency water restrictions. NEEDING NEW RESTRICTIONS
CEDAR PARK DROUGHT CONTINGENCY AND WATER EMERGENCY PLAN
Stage 1 voluntary water conservation conditions: the baseline water conservation stage; customers are limited to water outdoors twice a week and adhere to nonessential water use restrictions
systems, hose-end sprinklers, soaker hoses and drip irrigation is prohibited, according to the city. However, Leander residents are under stricter restrictions as the city aimed to get water usage below a threshold the city’s local water treat- ment plant is capable of handling. Leander entered Stage 4 of its Water Conservation Plan—restricting all outdoor watering, including hand-held watering—on Sept. 8. City ocials are urging water customers to shut irrigation systems o completely and limit other nones- sential uses. The city has also closed splash pads in Lakewood and Bledsoe parks, delayed new meter installations and prohibited all water connections for construction-related activities, according to city documents. This is because Leander relies on the BCRUA for a bigger portion of its water supply than Cedar Park. “Each city will have dierent water restriction plans because we’re very dierent in our capacities,” said Sam Roberts, Cedar Park assistant city man- ager, at an Aug. 25 council meeting. Required repairs Divers discovered the leak in the BCRUA pipe Aug. 8 during a routine monthly inspection, ocials said. The leak was found on a portion of the pipe that broke in December 2020 and was repaired in May 2021. That same break is failing again, Leander Executive Director of Infrastructure Dan Grimsbo said at the Aug. 18 coun- cil meeting. Ocials are still uncertain
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
Before and during the repair of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Author- ity underwater raw intake pipeline, both Cedar Park and Leander—which receive water from the utility— implemented emergency watering restrictions. Repairs began Sept. 21 to the pipe- line that feeds water from Lake Travis completion date of Oct. 4 is not guar- anteed, city ocials said emergency restrictions will not be in place longer than necessary. In Cedar Park, these emergency restrictions allow only handheld hose watering with a water shuto sprayer. All watering through irrigation to the BCRUA treatment plant. While the repair’s estimated RESIDENTIALRULES Until the repair, the following outdoor water restrictions are in place.
Stage 2 moderate water shortage conditions: some restrictions on nonessential water uses; outdoor water limited to twice a week; drip
irrigation and soaker hoses are permitted at all times Cedar Park was in Stage 2 prior to BCRUA pipeline leak
Stage 3 severe water shortage conditions: outdoor watering restricted to once a week; all other requirements of Stage 2 remain in eect
Stage 4 emergency water shortage conditions: goal of Stage 4 is to signicantly reduce water use during temporary, emergency water shortages; all outdoor watering is prohibited
As of Sept. 9, Cedar Park water customers were put under additional water restrictions separate from this phased plan
LEANDER WATER CONSERVATION PHASES Phase 1 base conditions: residential watering allowed twice a week and commercial watering once a week Phase 2 water use reduction: residential and commercial watering restricted to once a week; nonessential uses are prohibited except for re hydrants, pool care and commercial washes Leander was in Stage 2 prior to BCRUA pipeline leak
CEDAR PARK:
Watering vegetable gardens Leaving water for animals Hose with shuto sprayer
Hose-end sprinkler Irrigation systems Car washing
Phase 3 water emergency: only handheld watering is allowed for residential and commercial customers; nonessential uses still prohibited; industrial uses prohibited except for public health and safety needs
LEANDER:
Watering vegetable gardens Leaving water for animals Hose with shuto sprayer
Phase 4 water system failure: any or all nonessential uses may be restricted; no new or expanded water connections, meters or lines can be added unless they are necessary to resolve the system failure Leander implemented Stage 4 restrictions Sept. 8
Hose-end sprinkler Irrigation systems Car washing
SOURCES: CITY OF LEANDER, CITY OF CEDAR PARKCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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