BY APRIL KELLEY & KATY MCAFEE
Drought stages Drought restrictions in Lake Travis-Westlake are based on the total water supply, demand and capacity of water treatment plants.
The action taken
Restrictions have helped curb water usage, water district officials said. Threinen said the Lakeway MUD’s daily water usage is down 46% from the previous period—May and June— and down 27% from the same period last year—July and August 2022. Although water restrictions and conservation efforts remain integral to preserving Central Texas water, Hamilton and Homan said a flood is the only way the lakes will refill. “The rain started in 2015, and then it took a flood,” Hamilton said. “And it will take a flood to fill our lakes.” Hamilton said the LCRA is bank- ing on El Niño—above-average sea
surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean—to get the lakes back to a less dire level, but she believes the LCRA’s water manage- ment plan should be updated. “We can’t rely on an event to fill our lakes,” she said. “We just have to be more protective of our water.” Hamilton said the LCRA’s water management plan was extended until March 2025. At that time, plan updates and public comment will be taken into consideration. From there, Hamilton said it is typically a two-year process before the plan is updated, meaning it will likely be 2027 before the new plan is in place.
WCID No. 17
Outdoor watering is allowed on two designated days per week before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. and is based on the last digit of one’s address.
Stage 2
Tuesdays & Fridays 4, 5, 6
Mondays & Thursdays 0, 1, 2, 3
Addresses ending in:
Lakeway MUD
Outdoor watering is allowed on one designated day per week before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
Stage 3
Mon. 1, 3
Tue. 2, 4
Wed. 5, 7
Thu. 6, 8
Fri. 9, 0
Addresses ending in:
SOURCES: LAKEWAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, TRAVIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 17/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Individual solutions The Central Texas Water Coalition recommends several conservation tips for water users to make better water management choices.
Keep in mind
While the Lakeway MUD and WCID No. 17 have stepped up communication efforts and enforcement of their water restrictions, both districts are also stressing the importance of conservation efforts. Threinen said Lakeway MUD recommends different types of landscaping options to help conserve water.
Homan said WCID No. 17 recommends switching to more energy-efficient appliances when possible, including dishwashers and washing machines. The important thing, Homan said, is everyone does a little bit more to conserve. “We’re going to preserve this resource 1,000 different ways,” Homan said.
Only use the dishwasher and washing machine with a full load.
Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth, shaving and washing dishes; take showers instead of baths.
Plant native flora and drought-resistant landscaping, and put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation.
Collect rainwater for watering.
SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS WATER COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION
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