BY KATY MCAFEE
KEY
Current water restrictions as of Aug. 31
Diving in deeper
Local drought contingency plans
Both Pflugerville and Hutto are looking to invest in purple pipe water—treated wastewater that isn’t clean enough to drink but can be used for irrigation and cooling systems. “The last thing you need to do is to use precious drinking water for nonpotable water sources or needs,” Coronado said. Pflugerville has used purple pipe water for over a decade, but city leaders are ramping up those efforts and encouraging industrial customers to also use it. Pflugerville even offers rebates to encourage conservation, including for rainwater-harvesting systems, high-effi- ciency clothes washers and landscapes that don’t require irrigation.
Stage
Pflugerville
Hutto
Residential watering is limited to once a week. *Watering is only allowed before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Restaurants cannot serve water unless requested. Patio misters can only be used from 4 p.m.-midnight. Fountains and aesthetic pond features cannot be operated.
Residential watering is allowed twice a week. Water conservation is voluntary and encouraged. *Watering is only allowed before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Outdoor watering, car washing and filling swimming pools are limited to twice a week on designated days. Restaurants cannot serve water unless requested. Fountains and aesthetic pond features cannot be operated. Buildings and sidewalks cannot be washed.
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2 Nonessential uses of water, such as car washing and filling swimming pools, are prohibited.
Outdoor watering is prohibited. Nonessential uses of water are prohibited.
Outdoor watering is allowed once per week. Car washing and filling swimming pools is prohibited.
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*THESE WATERING HOURS ARE APPLICABLE FOR ALL STAGES OF THE CONSERVATION PLAN. SOURCES: CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE, CITY OF HUTTO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Regional water solutions To secure future water supplies,
Individual solutions Lawn care services company Emerald Lawns Marketing Director Kristen Parkhurst offered several tips on how residents can preserve their lawns and conserve water.
What’s next?
Williamson County leaders are seeking to reserve water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer about 50 miles east of the Austin area. The plan would require millions of dollars, a permit from the groundwater conservation district and easements.
Central Texas will need to see weeks of heavy rainfall, specifically near Fredericksburg to refill water basins, to end drought conditions, said Aaron Abel, water services manager for the Brazos River Authority. “That’s what we’re hoping for, but in the meantime, we’ve got to do what we can to extend the last of the water supply in these reservoirs, and that’s by enacting our drought contingency plans and trying to reduce water use,” Abel said.
Plant native grasses, such as Bermuda and Zoysia.
Aerate soil to loosen compact soil, which restricts root growth. Consider xeriscaping, a landscaping process that requires little irrigation by utilizing succulents, mulch and other drought-tolerant plants. Utilize top dressing, which adds nutrients back into soil after it's been depleted by the sun.
"[The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer] is the future water for Williamson County if I was betting." MICHAEL THANE, ROUND ROCK UTILITIES DIRECTOR
SOURCES: CITY OF ROUND ROCK, EMERALD LAWNS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION
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