Understanding the drought conditions
Austin is currently in a Stage Two drought, a designation the city has maintained since August 2023. Officials note that December, January and February have seen exceptionally low water inflows, ranking below the 25th percentile historically.
“We're not getting a lot of water flowing in. That points to the idea that it could be a very hot and dry summer,” Austin water conservation division manager Kevin Kluge said. “This is the time that people should start thinking of how to summer-proof their lawn or their landscape.”
The biggest challenge, he said, is keeping the public engaged in conservation efforts.
“Droughts start slow, and they take a long time,” Kluge said. “We need to keep in our customers' minds that we're still in a drought. We still need to save water.”
Watering restrictions and efficient irrigation
Under Stage Two drought restrictions, homeowners are limited to one designated watering day per week for automatic irrigation systems, while hose-end sprinklers can only be used on weekends. A recent change also restricts drip irrigation to two designated days per week.
Drip irrigation, a more efficient alternative to traditional sprinklers, delivers water directly to plant roots, minimizing evaporation.
For residents with older sprinkler systems, the city offers an irrigation upgrade rebate to help convert inefficient systems into drip irrigation or remove them entirely.
Rebates for water-saving landscaping
In addition to the irrigation upgrade rebate program, Austin also offers rebates for WaterWise landscaping and rainscape installations. These programs help residents replace water-intensive lawns with drought-resistant native plants and implement features that capture and retain rainwater.
Covering up to $3,000, the landscaping rebate provides $100 per 100 square feet of turf removed and replaced with native plants.
“Native plants use about half the amount of water that a lawn would require,” said Daniel Cavazos, supervisor of the customer programs team. “[The WaterWise] rebate program is very popular. Since we adjusted the rebate amount [in 2012], we've been getting a lot of traction.”
Similarly, the rainscape rebate offers 50 cents per square foot for residents who install rain gardens, swales or terracing systems that slow runoff and allow rainwater to absorb into the soil. This rebate will cover up to $1,500.
“Not only does this help with water conservation, but it also helps improve water quality,” Cavazos said.
Both programs require pre-approval through an online application, and projects must be completed during designated planting seasons in spring (March-May) or fall (September-November).
Lawn care and conservation strategies
One of the most common misconceptions about water conservation is that an individual’s efforts do not make a difference. However, city officials emphasize that small changes across the community collectively have a significant impact.
One way for residents to track their water consumption and set up leak alerts is to monitor their real-time water usage through Austin Water’s My ATX Water system.
Looking ahead
With a hot, dry summer ahead, city officials stress that now is the time for residents to assess their water use. From adopting smarter irrigation methods to taking advantage of rebates, there are numerous ways for homeowners to contribute to conservation efforts.
For more tips and rebates and to check your watering times, visit austinwater.org.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
