Groundwater conservation district leaders declared an extreme drought in southwestern Travis County on Feb. 19, calling for water curtailment from users.
The announcement comes on the heels of prolonged and intensifying drought in the region, which board members fear is causing strain on groundwater and aquifer resources, according to a news release.
The impact
As a result of the declaration, the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District is calling for:
30% voluntary curtailment from exempt wells, limited production general permits and nonexempt domestic users30% mandatory reduction of quarterly permitted use amount for users with operating permitsNo use of water without a board-approved variance for test well general permitsSome of the restrictions include:Only watering lawns, trees and shrubs up to once every every five to seven daysWatering between 8 p.m.-midnight and using a hand-held hoseNo swimming pool refills (topping off only)Only washing vehicles at car wash when necessaryNot washing buildings, driveways or other outdoor surfaces unless necessary for safetyThe measure also limits the drilling of new nonexempt wells and applications for new operating permits.
For a full list of restrictions, visit www.swtcgcd.com.
Diving in deeper
The stage of drought is determined by the highest level of drought impacting at least 50% of the groundwater conservation district. Average rainfall, aquifer conditions and neighboring county conditions can also play a role in the decision.
As of Feb. 17, 53% of the SWTCGCD was in extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with the remainder of the district facing severe drought.
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