Since Aug. 12, 2025, the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s San Antonio Pool has been under a Stage 4 drought designation, reducing permit holders’ authorized annual water withdrawals by 40%. The EAA announced a transition from Stage 4 drought to Stage 3, which will increase allowed pumping.
What happened
The Stage 3 drought designation went into effect on Sunday, April 26, as a result of improved aquifer conditions, according to an EAA news release. The San Antonio Pool provides water to permit holders in Medina, Bexar and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal and Hays counties.
For a Stage 4 distinction to remain in place at the San Antonio Pool, water levels at Comal Springs must measure below 100 cubic feet per second and levels at the J-17 index well must be below 630 feet above mean sea level, according to the EAA Critical Period Management Plan.
The J-17 index well is a monitoring well where the EAA measures groundwater levels in the San Antonio Pool of the Edwards Aquifer.
On April 26, the 10-day average at Comal Springs was 100 cubic feet per second and 632.7 feet above mean sea level at the J-17 index well, according to the news release. Both measurements were above the threshold for a Stage 4 drought, resulting in the transition to a Stage 3 classification.
The impact
Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than 3 acre-feet annually must reduce the amount of water withdrawn by 35% of their normal permitted allowance during the days the Stage 3 drought is active, according to the Critical Period Management Plan.
The reductions apply to industrial users, agricultural users and water utilities authorized to pump from the Edwards Aquifer for delivery to customers. All impacted permit holders must report pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis.
Residents and businesses that receive water from a public water system, such as municipalities and residential subdivisions, should follow any water-use restrictions put in place by their providers, according to the EAA.
Diving in deeper
The city of San Marcos receives a portion of its water from the EAA, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The city is currently under a Stage 3 drought and has established restrictions related to outdoor water and irrigation.
Residents have access to assistance programs that help them follow drought restrictions, including free irrigation system evaluations. A licensed irrigation inspector is available to assist community members, San Marcos Conservation Coordinator Jan De La Cruz said.
