Leander officials are asking residents and businesses to throttle back their water use and keep daily demand under 11 million gallons as the regional Brushy Creek treatment plant prepares to go offline for a brief upgrade starting Monday, Feb. 2. The work, expected to last about four days, is for meter installation, a tie-in to a new raw-water intake line and related repairs. City officials warn that if usage climbs above 11 million gallons per day, some neighborhoods could see low water pressure or even face a possible boil-water notice.
What The City Is Asking
To get ahead of the shutdown at the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority plant beginning Monday, Feb. 2, Leander announced on Jan. 26 that it would move into Phase 3 water conservation and asked customers to shut off automated irrigation and limit outdoor watering. The city says demand must stay below 11 million gallons per day to avoid low pressure or a boil-water notice, and notes that the community has been averaging about 11.7 million gallons per day this month, according to the City of Leander.
Why 11 MGD Matters
While the BCRUA plant is offline, Leander will lean on its smaller Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant, which has less production capacity and could be overwhelmed if demand spikes. Upgrades to Sandy Creek, including a new treatment unit and improved sludge handling, are expected to raise its capacity to roughly 12 million gallons per day. That is why city officials set an 11 million gallon per day ceiling while crews test and commission the work, Community Impact reported.
Practical Steps For Residents
Under Phase 3, residential landscape watering is limited to handheld methods only, and commercial irrigation systems will be locked. Filling pools or fountains with city water and using automated sprinklers are prohibited. The city has also suspended watering variances for new landscaping during the upgrade and is encouraging property owners to postpone nonessential outdoor water use. Residents can review the full list of restrictions and exceptions in the Phase 3 rules from the City of Leander.
Bigger Picture: Regional Upgrades And Risks
The temporary shutdown is part of a broader effort by the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority to expand raw-water delivery and treatment capacity for Cedar Park, Leander, and Round Rock. BCRUA's project pages describe the Phase 2 raw-water delivery system, and the Texas Water Development Board has approved multi-year financing to support related expansion work intended to boost regional resiliency, according to BCRUA and a Texas Water Development Board release.
Leander officials are urging residents to watch for updates over the coming days and to report any service issues. The city posted on X that Leander's water use was 10.8 million gallons per day yesterday, a reminder that the community is hovering close to the 11 million-gallon threshold. The city's post is available on X.
