As Austin continues to face the challenges of a persistent drought, the city's water conservation efforts are in the spotlight, yet the latest plans set forth by Austin Water are failing to make a splash with key advisors. Austin Water's conservation proposal, which aims to reduce water usage to 123 gallons per capita daily by 2029, has been criticized for its lack of ambition by the city’s Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force, an advisory panel consisting of volunteers and experts appointed by the City Council. As reported by the Austin Monitor, task force member Bill Moriarty summed up the response, "It's not robust at all, it's not challenging at all."

The task force, which advises on water policy, expressed dissatisfaction at only being given hours to review the conservation proposals released earlier this month before a pivotal council vote, they were also given the same, unchanged proposals in a subsequent meeting, setting the stage for ongoing discord. Furthering the tension, members like engineer Bill Moriarty criticized the proposed plan pointing out that, “We’re going backwards,” in reference to the less ambitious targets compared to the 2019 plan which aimed for 119 gallons per capita daily, as per Austin Monitor. The plans were meant to update the city's long-term conservation goals and refine drought response rules, which are legally required to be reviewed every five years. Austin Water, however, maintains the proposed goals are realistic, especially given the area's typical hot, dry summers.

As Austin is under Stage 2 drought restrictions with reservoir levels at a critical 42 percent full, these disagreements bring to the forefront the urgency with which Austin must tackle its water conservation policies, the task force has proposed that big businesses, such as Tesla, should play a significant part in these conservation efforts, however, Austin Water insists on the feasibility of their plans, despite the ongoing scrutiny. With no consensus in sight, Austin Water still plans to submit the proposals to City Council for a vote on Thursday, while the task force will convene once again with the utility in advance of the council decision, which KUT indicates is a move that task force members say has not provided enough time for public review and debate.