AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Monday it was able to loosen its water restrictions in Central Texas after recent rains have helped increase the region’s water supplies.
The LCRA on Monday moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1 of its drought response thanks to an increase to two water supply reservoirs — lakes Buchanan and Travis — whose combined storage has increased to more than 1.11 million acre-feet, or about about 56% of capacity after recent rainfall. That is up from about 846,000 acre-feet, or 42% of capacity, according to the LCRA. Those numbers were recorded on May 1.
“These rains were welcome and it’s good to see our water supply reservoirs at higher levels, but the reservoirs are still stressed from years of drought,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water. “With summer right around the corner, we all need to continue using water wisely and cutting back on discretionary water use.”
Under Stage 1, LCRA customers with domestic use contracts to draw water directly from the Highland Lakes may water outdoors up to twice a week on designated days. Under Stage 2 conditions, once-a-week outdoor watering restrictions were in place.
According to the LCRA, firm water customers “develop and implement their own drought contingency plans that must be at least as restrictive as LCRA’s, and residential and commercial users should check with their water providers to determine their local watering restrictions.”
“We encourage everyone to cut back water use when possible,” Hofmann said. “We’re heading into another hot, dry summer when the amount of water in lakes Buchanan and Travis typically drops because of increased water use and evaporation.”
Hofmann also said water consumption typically increases during the summer months, with as much as 70% of water used at homes being used outdoors on yards and landscapes.
Under the LCRA’s Drought Contingency Plan for Firm Water Customers, LCRA said it moves from Stage 2 to Stage 1 when “combined storage in the water supply lakes reaches 1.1 million acre-feet. Under Stage 1, LCRA requests its water customers reduce water use by 10% and requests its firm water customers – primarily cities, utilities and industries – implement mandatory restrictions to curtail water use.”
There are specific criteria for when LCRA will exit Stage 1 of its drought response. If conditions worsen and combined storage drops to 900,000 acre-feet, or about 45% of capacity, LCRA would return to Stage 2. If drought conditions improve and combined storage reaches 1.2 million acre-feet, or about 60% of capacity, LCRA would exit Stage 1 drought response for firm customers.
Water-saving resources and more information can be found on the LCRA’s website.
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