Emergency Water Restrictions Are Ordered for 25,000 in Travis County

West Travis County Public Utility Agency Customers (PUA) are under emergency stage 4 water restrictions after an “unanticipated” leak sprung in the raw water line.

The notice was issued this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. and covers all PUA customers in western Travis and northern Hays counties. Customers are unable to water their yards and landscape areas until the restriction is lifted. Golf course irrigations and fairways are also prohibited unless the water comes from an alternative source, including reclaimed or rain water.

The emergency notice was issued Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m and applies to all PUA customers in western Travis and northern Hays counties. During the restriction, watering of yards and landscaped areas is prohibited. Irrigation of golf courses and fairways is prohibited unless the water comes from an alternate source, such as reclaimed, gray or rain water. 

The utility company uncovered the leak on Monday afternoon in a 30-inch diameter raw water supply line that transports water from Lake Austin to the regional water treatment plan, according to KXAN. Roughly 50 gallons of water per minute were leaking from the pipe on Tuesday morning.

The restriction affects several Austin communities, including the Bee Cave city limits.