Summer 2018 Water Restrictions for Austin and Surrounding Areas Update

Matt Sorenson

Now that drought has spread to more than 80% of Texas, the water level in Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan has dipped low enough that Austin has entered Stage 1 water restrictions. Under Stage 1 regulations, the allowable hours for watering with an irrigation system have been reduced, and there are some changes in other areas too.

Here’s an update on watering restrictions in Austin and surrounding areas:

WTCPUA

WTCPUA allows watering two days a week between the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to midnight:

Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday
Commercial: Monday and Friday

Commercial includes large landscapes and HOA common areas

For more information, please visit:
http://www.wtcpua.org/news-detail?item_id=8922

DISTRICT 17

Automated Irrigation (a system with a timer or otherwise controlled)

Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. only

Residence numbers ending in 0, 1, 2, 3: Mondays and Thursdays
Residence numbers ending in 4, 5, 6: Tuesdays and Fridays
Residence numbers ending in 7, 8, 9: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Commercial and HOAs: Tuesdays and Fridays

Hose End Sprinkler (garden hose with removable portable sprinkler which is moved from place to place by hand and turned on and off by hand)

Any day but not between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Other Irrigation Methods (hand held hose, soaker hose, bubbler, drip irrigation or watering can of 5 gallons or less)

Any day but not between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

No other water uses are allowed under Stage 1 restrictions: car washing, pool refills, use of outdoor fountains, etc is not allowed).

More details are at: http://www.wcid17.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-04_Stage1.pdf

LAKEWAY

Lakeway is on a Stage 1 schedule. Watering is allowed two days each week and this applies to an in-ground irrigations schedule or a hose-end sprinkler.

Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday
Commercial: Tuesday and Friday

Irrigation is allowed between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. only. No watering is allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Please see http://www.lakewaymud.org/conservation/irrigation-schedule/ for full details.

PFLUGERVILLE

Pflugerville is in the Stage II water conservation schedule which allows irrigation between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. on designated days.

Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday
Commercial: Tuesday and Friday

There is an exception for new lawn installations:

For the first ten days after installation, once a day
For days 11 through 20 after installation, once every other day
For days 21 through 30 after installation, once every third day

Be sure to keep your receipt verifying installation date.

Hand watering is permitted any day between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Car and other vehicle washing is permitted on your watering days between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. provided you use a bucket or a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle.

Filling or refilling indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or Jacuzzis is permitted on your watering days between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Operation of ornamental ponds or fountains is not permitted unless it is necessary to aquatic life or if the pond is equipped with a recirculation system.

https://utilitybilling.pflugervilletx.gov/water-conservation/mandatory-water-conservation

AUSTIN

Hose End Sprinklers

Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday

Residential irrigation is allowed between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. only on designated days using a hose-end sprinkler.

Automatic Irrigation

Odd numbered addresses Wednesday only
Even numbered addresses Thursday only

Residential irrigation is allowed between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. only on designated days using automatic irrigation.

Residential customers are allowed to use their automatic irrigation system on one day only but may water on their second allowed day with a hose-end sprinkler.

Home car washing is allowed with the use of a bucker or auto shut-off hose
Tree bubblers, hand-held hose, refillable container, and drip irrigation may be used any time, any day.

Fountains must recirculate the water.

Further details are at: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/watering-restrictions

BUDA

The City of Buda has announced a return to Stage 1 water restrictions.

Odd numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses Thursday and Sunday
Commercial, mix-use, and multi-family Tuesday and Friday

Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. only
Outdoor watering with handheld bucket, handheld hose with a positive shutoff device, soaker hose and/or drip irrigation systems are permitted at any time on any day.

Washing your vehicle is allowed at any time, any day provided that it is done using a handled bucket or a handheld hose equipped with a shutoff device.

Irrigation of vegetable gardens with a handheld bucket, handheld hose, and soaker hose or drip irrigation system is allowed on any day and at anytime.

Irrigation of protected trees by a soaker hose, automatic bubbler, tree watering bag, or similar device placed within the tree’s dripline is allowed on any day and at any time.

Date and time restrictions for irrigation do not apply during repair or testing of a new or existing irrigation system if the person performing the testing is present.  The irrigation system shall only be operated as long as is necessary to diagnose and complete repairs.
Swimming Pools are allowed to operate and be filled as normal. It is recommended that swimming pools be covered while not in use to minimize evaporative losses.
The full announcement is available at: Buda Water Restrictions

WIMBERLEY

Wimberley has announced Stage II water restrictions.

Odd numbered addresses Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses Thursday and Sunday

Between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted on designated days by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less or drip irrigation system.

Use of water for non-essential purposes is not allowed. Non-essential purposes includes:

Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, aircraft or other vehicle
Use of water to wash down any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard surfaced areas
Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection
Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street
Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools or Jacuzzi-type pools
Use of water in a fountain or pond except where necessary to support aquatic life

It is also a violation of water regulations in Wimberley fail to repair a controllable leak or leaks within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leaks.

The regulations can be seen in full at: https://www.wimberleywatersupplycorp.com/

and at: https://nebula.wsimg.com/3551b50e256ad2c5d84b460e9e7e415d?AccessKeyId=EC49E517D8C7F3E6D2CB&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality publishes the full list of “Texas Public Water Systems Limiting Water Use to Avoid Shortages”, updated weekly, at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/drinkingwater/trot/droughtw.html

There are a number of steps you can take to conserve water. The City of Austin website lists a number of them for laundry rooms, kitchens, vehicles and surfaces, pools and fountains, bathrooms, and others.

One of the most effective things you can do is to have your irrigation system professionally inspected and maintained. A professional inspection will include:

checking your sprinkler heads and adjusting them for proper coverage that conforms to your landscape
repair or replacement of faulty sprinkler heads or valves
adjusting and regulating your timer to suit local temperature and rainfall
inspection and replacement of backflow as needed
inspection and repair of lines as needed
remediation of leaks

Not only will routine maintenance of your irrigation system save you money in water bills and in fines you may inadvertently incur for unintentional non-compliance, it will keep your lawn healthy and flourishing while following watering restrictions.

South Austin Irrigation will keep your irrigation system operating at peak efficiency. Call us today at (512) 534-7449.