LCRA sells water to customers through contracts and resolutions approved by LCRA's Board of Directors.

By obtaining a contract from LCRA, cities, industries and homeowners in the lower Colorado River basin may secure a supply of "firm" water that is available even during dry periods that are equal to the worst drought on record.

Download the latest list of customers with firm water contracts.

Rates

LCRA's rate for firm water actually used is currently $151 an acre-foot per year. LCRA's rate for firm water reserved for future use is $75.50 an acre-foot per year.  The reservation fee helps pay LCRA's cost of storing and managing the reserved water supplies.  The total amount of water under contract with LCRA sets the Maximum Annual Quantity (MAQ).  LCRA’s rate for firm water inverted block fee for use in excess of the Maximum Annual Quantity is $302 an acre-foot per year.

For more information on how our rates are derived please see the Raw Water Rate Study and Raw Water Frequently Asked Questions.

LCRA has several types of uses under its water sale contracts:

Resources

Residential property owners can obtain one to three-year contracts from LCRA to pump water for domestic use from one of the lakes. These are "firm" contracts, meaning the water is reserved even during severe drought conditions. The following documents provide more information on applying for a contract. Click to view the Highland Lakes Domestic Use Contract Program.

• Water contract administrative rules: Rules that govern how LCRA administers contracts for new and existing water customers, with the exception of LCRA Irrigation District customers. LCRA’s Agricultural Interruptible Water Service Contract Rules can be found under IRRIGATION CONTRACTS 
• Firm Water Contract: In order to secure a firm water supply from the Highland Lakes or the lower Colorado River, LCRA requires customers such as municipalities and golf courses to secure a contract.

Water conservation planning for wholesale water customers and other users

• Water conservation rules for water sale contracts: Except for domestic customers, all water users are required to develop a water conservation plan in accordance with these rules. 
• To download an example of a Water Conservation Plan that meets the LCRA water conservation plan rules, view the 2009 LCRA Water Utilities Conservation Plan.
  Customers are encouraged to adopt and implement, where feasible, elements of the LCRA Conservation Landscape Best Management Practices. To download a copy of the Landscape Best Management Practices, click here. 
• Download worksheet: Table A - Spreadsheet for calculating utility baseline data 

Drought planning for wholesale water customers and other users

• Drought contingency plan rules for water sale contracts: Municipal retail, wholesale and all non-LCRA irrigation division customers are required to implement a drought contingency plan in accordance with these rules. These plans must be approved by LCRA before a water sale contract can be executed.
• Sample Drought Contingency Plans:
  

  Sample DCP Golf Course Use	Sample DCP Industrial and Mining Use
  Sample DCP Municipal Use	Sample DCP Recreation Use
  Sample DCP Athletic Field Irrigation Use	Sample DCP Recreation/Irrigation non Golf Course/Agricultural Use
  Sample DCP Agricultural Use
  Please note that these plans are simply recommendations based on LCRA staff research on what has worked with other communities and businesses.  The specific requirements for DCPs are found in the DCP rules for water sale contracts.

• LCRA's 1998 agreement to purchase Garwood Irrigation Co.
• LCRA’s Agricultural Interruptible Water Service Contract Rules