Alert: Austin Issues Urgent Emergency Water Use Restrictions

Austin City Code Chapter 6-4-20 allows the Director to enact emergency restrictions to protect public health during an unusual operations event…

AUSTIN – Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros has issued emergency water use restrictions, effective at 10 a.m., Monday, October 22, 2018. 

Austin City Code Chapter 6-4-20 allows the Director to enact emergency restrictions to protect public health during an unusual operations event. Due to the high level of silt and debris in our water supply lakes as a result of recent flooding, there is an urgent need to reduce water demand to allow treatment plant operations to stabilize.

During this period and until further notice, all outdoor water use is prohibited. Customers may not:

• Use water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment
• Wash vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities
• Wash pavement or other surfaces
• Add water to a pool or spa
• Conduct foundation watering, or
• Operate an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life 

Violations of these restrictions should be reported to Austin 3-1-1. Austin Water appreciates your support in reducing water use to help stabilize Austin’s water treatment plants.
 
The emergency water use restrictions are necessary to ensure water is available for firefighting and basic needs. Historic flood waters flowing into our region’s water supply lakes, the Highland Lakes, contain much higher levels of debris, silt, and mud. As a result, Austin water is experiencing reduced water treatment capacity.
 
Austin Water has issued a city-wide boil water notice for all customers. To ensure that water is safe, customers are asked to boil water that is used for drinking, cooking or ice for three minutes.
 
The city-wide boil water notice is in addition to actions taken by the City over the last week to ensure the health and safety of our community during this flood event.

These have included activating the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center to closely monitor the evolving conditions, closing the City’s waterway, closing Parks and Recreation facilities along City waterways, monitoring and managing low-water crossings, and working with our neighbors to the west of Austin to respond to their own flood emergencies.

The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center will remain active through the remainder of this situation and will be providing updates as conditions change.
 
For more information visit austintexas.gov/boilh2o.