These include the cities of Buda and Kyle, as well as individual well owners and water utilities.
What happened
The board of directors voted Sept. 11 to declare a Stage 3 exceptional drought for the second time in the board's 38-year history. The first time the board declared this level of drought was in December 2023, according to a news release from the board.
As a result, permittees must reduce the amount of water they pump from the aquifer by 30-100%, depending on the type of permit they hold. The portion of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers managed by the board is estimated to serve about 100,000 people.
The details
The decision comes as the district has observed a significant drop in the water levels of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, the release states. The district has been in continuous drought for 39 months, more than three years.
As the district permits various types of water utilities, residents should contact their water provider to determine how they will be affected by the restrictions, the release states.
What they're saying
“Every gallon saved helps preserve our shared water supply, as well as the iconic springs, creeks, and rivers of the area,” said Shay Hlavaty, communications and outreach manager for the district, in the release. “We all have a role to play in protecting this precious resource as we face one of the region’s most intense droughts in recorded history.”
What's next?
Residents served by the water district are asked to actively conserve water, as the area has received significantly less rainfall this year than is typical. Typically, the area receives about 22 inches of rain from March to September. However, this year, the area only received about 17 inches of rainfall.
Since January 2022, the district has been about 31 inches short of the needed rainfall to close the gap.
