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Stage 3 water restriction area.
After placing the city under temporary Stage 3 Drought Restrictions Friday afternoon, the City of Georgetown announced Monday, July 17, that the water restrictions will remain in effect through September 4 for about 35 percent of its customers, all in areas of Georgetown “generally west of D.B. Wood Road and southwest of Williams Drive.” Stage 3 restrictions including no outdoor watering.
The restrictions are in place “due to excessive irrigation, water supply challenges and severe drought conditions,” according to the city. “Watering with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler is prohibited during Drought Stage 3.”
“We did not make this decision lightly,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said in a statement. “We know Georgetown water customers take pride in their homes, and not being allowed to water our lawns is far from ideal. However, having safe drinking water for our customers must take priority over pristine, green lawns. We are taking this step to ensure we can continue to provide safe drinking water, at least until temperatures cool down.”
Residents and businesses impacted by the restrictions include those roughly located southwest of Williams Drive, west of D.B. Wood Road and west of SW Bypass, including the Liberty Hill extra territorial jurisdiction and the Parkside, Santa Rita Ranch, Parmer Ranch and Water Oak areas. A detailed map of restrictions can be found at https://tinyurl.com/4cutp7y9.
Additionally, Georgetown splash pads will be closed for the rest of the season, and city facility irrigation systems not using reclaimed water will remain off, according to the city.
A city press release included a list of “predominantly regional factors” that led to the decision. Factors according to the city included the following.
- Stillhouse Hollow Lake is lower than it has been in 33 years, and Lake Georgetown is approaching 2011 drought levels.
- The U.S. Drought Monitor moved Georgetown into a Severe Drought July 13.
- Central Texas continues to see record-high, sustained temperatures.
- The City is not receiving the full contracted amount from the City of Leander, which is one of the primary sources of water for the affected area.
- The Southside Water Treatment Plant that also serves this area is offline for rehabilitation. Current estimates have the plant returning to full capacity in October 2023.
- The three pump stations servicing the affected area are unable to keep up with demand, and there are no alternatives to get more water to those pump stations for distribution. If pump stations cannot maintain pressure, it could lead to boil water notices.
- Water use across the city’s system has exceeded 95 percent of the area’s treatment capacity multiple days the past two weeks.
- During the summer months, 75 percent of the water produced each day by water treatment plants is used for lawn and landscape irrigation.
According to the city, Georgetown is working with Leander to find additional sources of treated water. However, Leander will likely not be able to provide the contracted amount of water capacity this summer.
“A combination of cascading challenges – within our system and regionally – have left us with few options to ensure we maintain safe drinking water for all our customers,” Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said. “If any one of those conditions were to improve, we could look at lifting the restrictions, but for now, everyone must adhere to the watering restrictions in place, so we don’t have to take them further.”
On Friday, the City of Georgetown had said it was temporarily enacting Stage 3 restrictions stating due to high, sustained water use and system treatments nearing capacity.
“While irrigation is the bulk of the issue, we also have not been receiving the full, contracted amount of treated water from the City of Leander,” City Manager David Morgan said Friday. “Between conservation and some additional capacity coming online this weekend we are hopeful we will not have to extend Stage 3 restrictions beyond Monday.”
Customers in East Georgetown and outside of the impacted areas may return to Stage 2 restrictions as of Monday, which allow for one-day-per-week outdoor watering.