The Stage 3 drought response rules that San Marcos has been under since Aug. 20 were lifted Sept. 21. The lift comes after the city received 2.65 inches of rain Sept. 13-16. On Sept. 14, the Hays County burn ban was lifted.
Jon Clack, assistant director of public services for the City of San Marcos, said although the city is no longer under Stage 3 restrictions, residents should continue observing water rules.
"Basically from Stage 3, it's every other week [that residents can water lawns], so we're going back to every week, but the restrictions are primarily the same," Clack said.
The additional rules were lifted when Tom Taggart, executive director of public services for the City of San Marcos, issued an order to terminate the Stage 3 restrictions in favor of Stage 2.
The aquifer dropped to 637.8 feet above mean sea level Aug. 20, which caused the 10-day average to dip below 640 feet. This fluctuation caused the city to enter Stage 3 restrictions.
On Sept. 19, the 10-day rolling average at the aquifer was 643.1 feet, and the daily reading was 648 feet above mean sea level. Stage 2 restrictions occur when the aquifer level is between 650 and 640 feet.
San Marcos currently pumps 85 percent of its water supply from surface water from Canyon Lake and 15 percent from the Edwards Aquifer.
The Edwards Aquifer Authority requires those who hold permits for the San Antonio pool to reduce pumping by 30 percent under Stage 2 as opposed to 35 percent under Stage 3 restrictions.
Stage 2 rules include:
Use of sprinklers and automatic sprinkler irrigation systems are limited to one day per week.
Soaker hoses, drip irrigation and hand watering is allowed before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. any day.
Home car washing is restricted to one day per week
Filling new swimming pools is not allowed
Use of outdoor decorative water features is not allowed
Washing paved surfaces is not allowed
More information on droughts and Stage 2 water restrictions is available at www.sanmarcostx.gov/drought.