According to the draft plan, Buda’s water demand is expected to exceed existing supplies by 2040 if no new infrastructure or sources are added. While Buda’s population growth is projected to be slower than that of neighboring cities like San Marcos and Kyle, the city is still expected to grow from about 20,000 residents in 2030 to more than 53,000 by 2080.
Still, city officials say they are confident that recent efforts to diversify water supply and strengthen regional partnerships will help the city meet long-term needs.
The overview
Buda’s water master plan, adopted by City Council on May 7, 2024, outlines how the city currently relies on the Edwards Aquifer and Canyon Lake—two key water sources that continue to face prolonged drought and low water levels.
The plan calls for diversification of water sources, including participation in the Alliance Regional Water Authority and the Carrizo Water Treatment Plant—a long-anticipated supply project shared among Hays County cities. As of May 2024, Kyle began receiving water deliveries from the Alliance pipeline, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
According to Blake Neffendorf, Buda’s director of Public Works, the city of Buda and others are nearing full operational access to the Carrizo pipeline. Towers are already receiving water, and only a few minor pipeline segments in Hays County remain under construction. Neffendorf expects the Carrizo Water Treatment Plant to reach full production capacity by the summer.
In addition to that partnership, Buda is in the beginning stages of an Aquifer Storage and Recovery, or ASR, pilot project, which would allow the city to store excess Edwards Aquifer water during periods of low demand and recover it during peak summer usage.
Digging deeper
Neffendorf says the city has and will continue to roll out conservation programs or initiatives, currently including an outdoor watering schedule along with a tiered water rate structure to encourage conservation by making excessive water use more expensive.
As outlined in Buda’s FY 2025 Fee Schedule, effective Jan. 7, the water consumption rates for inside city limits are:
- 1 to 6,000 gallons: $5.73 per 1,000 gallons
- 6,001 to 12,000 gallons: $9 per 1,000 gallons
- 12,001 to 18,000 gallons: $13.47 per 1,000 gallons
- 18,001 to 24,000 gallons: $15.86 per 1,000 gallons
- 24,001 to 30,000 gallons: $19.23 per 1,000 gallons
- 30,001 to 40,000 gallons: $25.15 per 1,000 gallons
- Over 40,000 gallons: $26.79 per 1,000 gallons
Buda also plans to roll out more additional rebate programs, recently starting a rain barrel rebate program in May.
The city has also had AMI, or advanced metering infrastructure, in place for several years. Through this system, residents can track their water usage down to the hour, receive leak notifications, and address issues early.
Buda additionally frequently takes advantage of reuse water.
“We do provide some reuse water to businesses within the city, and we are currently actively working to expand our reuse water system," Neffendorf said.
Some context
These efforts come as both of Buda’s primary water sources face mounting challenges.
The Edwards Aquifer Authority implemented Stage 4 Critical Period Management on May 29, following a brief call to enter Stage 5 just days earlier on May 23 due to worsening drought conditions, according to a news release.
Stage 4 requires permit holders to reduce groundwater pumping by 40%, with even deeper cuts possible if Stage 5 is implemented. Stage 5—the highest drought stage—requires a 44% reduction in withdrawals, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
“We have others around us that are sole-source—just on the Edwards Aquifer,” Neffendorf said. “We’ll need to do our part to limit our usage and be good regional stewards of the water so that we can ensure that everyone's safe.”
In similar news
If you’re interested in San Marcos water planning, more information can be found here. For details on Kyle water planning, more information is available here.
