Water flow to Lake Pflugerville stopped March 17 after a fifth break was identified in the city’s raw water pipeline, prompting officials to call for increased conservation as crews respond to the latest disruption.
What’s happening?
City officials said the break was discovered the morning of March 17 in the existing pipeline that carries water into the lake.
Construction crews and city staff are actively working to address the issue, according to a city update.
With water no longer flowing into Lake Pflugerville, officials are urging all customers to further reduce usage to prevent additional strain on the system.
“All city of Pflugerville water customers must increase their conservation efforts to reduce demand on the system,” the city said in the update.
Officials warned that failure to conserve could lead to tighter restrictions.
The city encouraged residents to take additional steps beyond eliminating outdoor irrigation, including:
Reusing household water when safe for cleaning or plantsTurning off taps while brushing, washing or scrubbingCollecting rainwater for non-drinking usesDelaying laundry and dishwasher use when possibleThe pipeline delivers raw water to Lake Pflugerville, which must be continuously replenished to maintain supply. Any disruption to that system can quickly affect water availability across the city.
Officials said updates on repairs and system conditions will be provided as crews continue working to restore water flow.
How we got here
Pflugerville’s water supply issues stem from a series of pipeline failures that disrupted the city’s ability to pump water from the Colorado River into Lake Pflugerville, its primary drinking water source.
On March 4, Mayor Doug Weiss declared a local disaster and activated Stage 3 emergency water restrictions.
Two days later, crews began working to install a temporary bypass pipeline while repairing the damaged raw waterline, which runs roughly 20 feet underground and beneath a creek.
City officials said construction of the bypass line was underway, though repairs were complicated by the depth of the pipe and field conditions.
On March 10, crews installed a temporary 24-inch bypass pipeline, and on March 11, the city resumed pumping water from the Colorado River into Lake Pflugerville, restoring raw water flow.
City officials said Stage 3 water restrictions were expected to remain in place for at least 60 days, or until lake levels reach about 19 feet. As of March 11, the lake measured 16.52 feet.
By March 13, city officials warned that rising water use was threatening the recovery of Lake Pflugerville, with daily demand trending upward and putting additional strain on the system.
