What is the Water Use Management Ordinance? To help conserve our treated drinking water, the City of Austin has adopted a water use management ordinance (Chapter 6-4 of City Code). The ordinance outlines restrictions that may be placed on water use in response to supply and demand triggers or emergency conditions. Every act prohibited by this ordinance is considered a separate offense. Each offense is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by fines starting at $475.

How are Stage Two water restrictions different from Stage One restrictions? In response to the ongoing drought, the City Manager ordered the implementation of Stage Two Restrictions based on triggers under the water use management ordinance. The following additional restrictions took effect on September 6, 2011 and remain in effect until further notice (water waste is prohibited year-round):

• Outdoor watering is restricted to once a week on the designated watering day unless using a handheld hose or bucket
• Use of automatic irrigation systems is limited to between 12 a.m. and 10 a.m. on the designated watering day
• Use of outdoor fountains is prohibited except when necessary to provide aeration for aquatic life
• Indoor fountains cannot be filled, refilled or have water added
• Automatic fill valves cannot be used to add water to outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or ponds
• Restaurants may not serve water unless requested by the customer
• The washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, or other paved areas is prohibited except to alleviate an immediate health or safety hazard
• Vehicle washing, except at a commercial carwash, is limited to designated watering day and times unless necessary to alleviate an immediate health or safety hazard.
• Charity car washes are prohibited unless a waterless cleaning product is used instead of water  

Why are we in Stage Two restrictions now? The City’s Drought Contingency Plan states that the City Manager may consider water use restrictions in response to supply or demand conditions. The supply trigger for Stage Two restrictions is a combined storage level of less than 900,000 acre-feet in Lakes Travis and Buchanan. Because the lakes were expected to reach that level and no significant rainfall was forecast, the City Manager announced on August 17, 2011, that he would implement Stage Two restrictions effective September 6, 2011. Even though recent rains have lessened the effects of the drought and added more water to the lakes, the combined levels of Lakes Buchanan and Travis are still less than half full.

Do the Stage 2 restrictions apply to me? All customers who use water, other than reclaimed water, supplied by Austin Water are required to follow the Stage 2 watering restrictions. If your water does not come from Austin Water, check with your water provider for the restrictions in your area. If you have a well and use groundwater you should check with the local groundwater conservation district for your area. If you take water directly from the Highland Lakes, you should contact the LCRA at (512) 473-3231.

For more questions please refer to our pdf titled Frequent Questions About Stage Two Watering Restrictions.