The water level of Lake Pflugerville continues to rise after multiple breaks to the city’s Colorado River pipeline halted water flow into Pflugerville’s primary reservoir.
What’s new
At an April 28 City Council meeting, staff announced that the lake level has remained just above 633 feet, and the city will move into modified Stage 1 emergency water restrictions on May 1.
Under Stage 1 restrictions, hand watering of lawns and landscapes is allowed on designated watering days before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Vehicle washing is allowed on designated days using a bucket or hose with a shutoff nozzle. Use of water to wash, rinse or treat outdoor surfaces is prohibited, and swimming pools and hot tubs are allowed to operate normally, although pools may not be drained or refilled.
Additionally, fishing at Lake Pflugerville is allowed from the shore and piers, but lake swimming and boating will not be permitted until the lake reaches 634 elevation.
The city is waiting until conditions are right to move to Stage 1 restrictions, rather than move directly into Stage 2 because commercial users may use additional water in Stage 2.
The background
On March 4, city officials declared a local disaster and set restrictions across the city. City officials said multiple breaks in the 30-inch raw water pipeline that carries water from the Colorado River to Lake Pflugerville limited the city’s ability to replenish its primary drinking water source.
According to city staff, the first pipeline break occurred in September 2025, during construction of a new secondary pipeline designed to improve system reliability.
The initial repair took about 12 days, but additional breaks occurred in November 2025 and in January, each requiring extended shutdowns for repairs.
A fourth break in February 2026 occurred shortly after the pump station was restarted.
On March 17, water flow to Lake Pflugerville stopped after a fifth break was identified in the city’s raw water pipeline, prompting officials to call for increased conservation as crews responded to the disruption.
The city announced on April 24 that the lake’s level officially reached the targeted elevation of 633 feet.
Going forward
A two-week scheduled shutdown after Memorial Day will occur to complete full repairs on the existing raw waterline, finish construction of the secondary raw waterline and conduct pump maintenance.
The two-week shutdown will not result in a disruption in service delivery for customers.
