Cedar Park could enact its strongest water restrictions ever Aug. 1 in anticipation of ongoing drought conditions this summer.

City Council heard proposals June 27 to increase Cedar Park from Stage 2 to Stage 3 watering restrictions as outlined in the city's Drought Contingency and Water Emergency Plan. The change would limit residents to outdoor watering once per week rather than twice, and residential recreational water use will also be banned.

Stage 3 restrictions would automatically go into effect once Lake Travis—Cedar Park's primary source of water—drops below a certain trigger point, said Katherine Woerner, Cedar Park's director of community affairs. Proactively strengthening city restrictions gives city staff enough time to inform and educate residents, she said.

"This allows residents time to learn new schedules and adopt new behaviors," Woerner said.

Cedar Park has been under some form of drought restrictions since August 2011, but Stage 3 water restrictions have never been enacted, she said. If the city is forced to enact the fourth and final stage, Cedar Park residents would be restricted from all outdoor watering.

The Drought Contingency Plan was updated in March to be simplified and more consistent with neighboring cities. Additional changes were proposed June 27 as part of the public hearing process, including one Stage 3 change that would allow residents at any time to use handheld hoses equipped with a positive pistol grip nozzle or other device that automatically shuts off water flow when the hose is not being used.

In addition, Stage 3 rules already prohibit pressure washing and residential and charity car washes. Use of irrigation systems and lawn sprinklers would be allowed one assigned day per week on a schedule not yet approved. Residents can hand water and have their car washed at a commercial car wash business at any time.

Punishments for violations would remain the same. City enforcement officials issue a warning letter for a first watering violation, and a second violation within 12 months of any preceding violation costs residents $50 and commercial water customers $200. A third violation costs residential and commercial customers $100 and $400, respectively, and fourth and subsequent violations result in fines of $200 and $1,000, respectively.

A final public hearing will be held July 11 before final approval can be made on the updated restrictions.