Austin water creeps closer to Stage 3

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Stage 3 water restrictions could be just months away in Austin, if the drought persists. On Tuesday, top water officials discussed the possibility during a Leadership Austin forum.

"We're actually in the process now of receiving public input and thoughts of how we might craft a Stage 3 water restriction scenario,” said Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros. “We have never had to implement Stage 3."

Austinites like Diana Graves, who was shopping for her lawn at the Great Outdoors nursery, have gotten used to Stage 2 restrictions in place since the fall. It mostly means she can use outdoor sprinkler systems only once a week.

"You put a lot of time and energy into a plant, and it just dies from the lack of water,” said Graves. “I was worried about my trees, much less my plants."

If Austin's Stage 3 is anything like Williamson County last fall, there would be:

• No water for lawns, even without a hose
• No water for cars, even at the car wash
• No water for pools, public or private

In Williamson County's case, it was temporary. But as the drought drags on, Austin might need to adjust for something more long term, according to Meszaros.

“We don't know how long this drought will last,” he said. “It could be months. It could be years. We do know it's having a detrimental effect on our water sources.”

Some startling new figures paint Texas' future on a very dry canvas. The state's Water Development Board projects our population to double in the next half century.

That would increase water demand by 22 percent., while water supplies would go down by ten percent.

On Tuesday, the Lower Colorado River Authority said -- if the drought persists like this -- Lake Buchanan could reach an all-time low by May and Lake Travis by July.

This news is something Graves said she saw coming. Ready to adjust and conserve, she suggests the same for her neighbors.

"Actually, I'm switching gears and going with more drought-tolerant plants,” she added.