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Current situation
Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan—two lakes that provide water to over 1.4 million people in Central Texas—are at 49% capacity due to consistently high temperatures and lack of rainfall, the Lower Colorado River Authority announced July 24.
Lakes levels are expected to fall an additional 4%-5% by mid-August.
The action taken
The LCRA has entered Stage 1 drought restrictions and is urging its customers—which include businesses, cities and municipalities—to reduce water usage by 5%. The LCRA’s customers include the cities of Austin, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Leander and more as well as several golf clubs and country clubs.
In several weeks, when the lakes fall to the projected 45% capacity, LCRA will move to Stage 2 drought restrictions and ask its customers to reduce water usage by 10%-20%. Local municipalities and utilities, such as Austin Water, will then enact their own drought plans for their customers.
What the experts say
“It’s been a while since we’ve had any rain, and these extreme 100-degree-plus days are taking a toll on all of us,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water, in a statement. “They also are taking a toll on our water supply lakes. With very little water flowing into the lakes and a ‘heat dome’ roasting our area since early June, lake levels are decreasing as significant amounts of water evaporate or are used on landscaping in the region. We all need to step up and do our part to conserve.
“Our water supply is stressed but still in OK shape,” Hofmann said. “It’s in our entire region’s interest to slow down water consumption because everything we do now will help prolong and protect our water supply. We are getting close to the next trigger in our drought contingency plan, and customers soon will be implementing additional drought response measures. But no one should wait for restrictions to be put in place to stop wasting water.’’
