NWA-2015-04-01-03Austin has been under Stage 2 water restrictions for several years, but City Council made changes May 5 that will affect landscape watering and other water conservation regulations if the city moves to a different stage. City staff said they anticipate recommending the city return to the Conservation Stage of watering restrictions, which is the base stage declared when lakes are from around two-thirds full to full, according to city documents. The amendments made May 5 did not significantly alter Stage 2 water restrictions, which include one-day-per-week watering, but did make several other changes including:

  • Loosening car washing regulations to allow at-home washing in all stages except Stage 4. During the Conservation Stage and Stage 1, home car washing can be done only with a hose or bucket, and in Stages 2 and 3, only with a bucket.
  • Tightening restrictions on automatic irrigation systems to allow watering one day per week instead of two during the Conservation Stage and Stage 1.
  • Allowing residents who water one day a week with an automatic system to water a second day with a hose-end sprinkler in the Conservation Stage and Stage 1.
Drip irrigation systems and hand-watering by hose will continue to be allowed at any time and designated watering days will remain the same. Council members Sheri Gallo, Ellen Troxclair and Don Zimmerman voted against the changes. Gallo said her constituents reported one-day-per-week watering is not sufficient and said the city should trust that the $4.5 million it dedicated to water conservation education efforts during the past four years will help residents make informed decisions about water usage. "I truly believe we are a community that has learned how to conserve," she said. "We need to trust our community."