BY KATY MCAFEE
KEY
Current water restrictions as of Sept. 21
What happened
Drought restrictions information
All of Austin’s water comes from surface water from the Highland Lakes purchased through the LCRA, making customers more susceptible to low lake levels, Critendon said. Lakes Travis and Buchanan dipped below 850,000 acre feet in August, leading the utility to impose its most severe level of watering restrictions since 2012. The Highland Lakes hav- en’t been full since 2019. Officials are encouraging residents to conserve. “It takes all of us together exhibiting good, responsible water use behavior to really make this work,” Critendon said. “We’re looking forward to work- ing with the community on that.”
Stage
Austin
Automatic irrigation is allowed once a week from midnight-8 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight. Hose-end sprinkler watering is allowed twice a week from midnight-10 a.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight.
1
Automatic irrigation hours cut off at 5 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. Hose-end watering is limited to once a week before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
2
Patio misters may operate from 4 p.m.-midnight. Restaurants may not serve water unless requested. Car washing with a bucket is permitted.
Automatic watering is allowed once a week from midnight-6 a.m. Hose-end watering is allowed between 7-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m.
3
4
Outdoor irrigation is prohibited.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Individual solutions Kristen Parkhurst, marketing director of lawn care services company Emerald Lawns, offered several tips on how residents can preserve their lawns and conserve water.
Regional water solutions When the city is out of drought conditions or experiences flooding, Austin is considering pumping excess treated water into an underground aquifer to store for later use. The project would help prevent water loss from evaporation and provide the city an additional reservoir. “One thing that Water Forward has taught us is that there’s no one simple easy solution to meet the complexity of our future,” Critendon said.
What’s next
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. “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 drought-tolerant grasses, such as Bermuda and Zoysia.
Utilize top dressing, which adds nutrients back into soil after it’s been depleted by the sun.
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.
SOURCE: EMERALD LAWNS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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