In a significant turn of events, Austin has downgraded its water restrictions to the Conservation Stage, as announced by City Manager T.C. Broadnax and the director of Austin Water, Shay Ralls Roalson, due to a substantial influx of water in the Highland Lakes—a direct result of the recent flooding in the area. According to a statement obtained by the City of Austin's official website, Broadnax communicated the necessity for the community to remain vigilant about water use even amidst these changes: "While the outlook is encouraging, all Austinites should remain committed to carefully preserving our water supply."
The July deluge that wrought havoc across the region also brought Lakes Buchanan and Travis to a robust 94% capacity, pooling more than 1.9 million acre-feet of combined storage and, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority, it is anticipated that lake levels will sustain above 1.4 million acre-feet for the upcoming four months; this estimate allowed for a change from Stage 2 to the Conservation Stage of the city’s Drought Contingency Plan—with these new regulations coming into force on September 2, 2025. Although the water situation has improved, Roalson reminds Austinites that conservation should be an ongoing practice: “The community’s efforts to conserve water are key to maintaining the health of our water supply and meeting the needs of our growing city," Shay Ralls Roalson told the City of Austin's official website.
Observing the revised Conservation Stage restrictions implies that automatic irrigation systems will limit watering to once per week before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m., while hose-end sprinklers and drip irrigation are permitted for up to two designated days per week during the same hours. Restaurants in Austin will only serve water upon request, with enforcement on water regulations being monitored through reports of non-compliance and water waste received via Austin 3-1-1 and scheduled patrols.
Austin Water, which serves over one million people across more than 548 square miles, is emphasizing the importance of water conservation amidst changing environmental conditions and a growing population, reassuring Austinites that such measures are essential to ensure sustainable water consumption. Austin, which aligns with a five-year reviewed Drought Contingency Plan, last approved in November 2024, sets an example with its protective drought stage restrictions that surpass those found in many other communities, as detailed on austinwater.org.
