Water-Related Rules, Regulations and Permit Applications Open for Public Comment

LCRA posts water-related rules and regulations open for public comment on this page.

 

Water-related rules and regulations

Updates to Water Contract Rules

LCRA is considering changes to its firm water contracts and related rules. LCRA welcomes feedback on the proposed changes and is accepting comments through Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Proposed changes include requiring LCRA firm water customers and domestic use customers to permanently limit outdoor watering to no more than once a week by spring 2031, or earlier if the combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis falls below 900,000 acre-feet. Firm water customers include cities, industries and retail water suppliers. Each firm water customer would determine how to implement the updated watering schedule.

Outdoor watering accounts for 30-70% of water use during hot, dry months. Once-per-week watering can reduce water use by 7-12% compared to watering twice per week. This water-saving strategy is included in LCRA’s Water Supply Resource Report to help meet the region’s long-term water supply needs.

Other proposed changes include:

  • Adding a no more than once-per-week watering schedule to drought response Stage 1 when combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis falls below 1.45 million acre-feet. This would go into effect by spring 2029 prior to the permanent once-per-week watering limitation required no later than 2031.
  • Limiting water contracts for future developments to 150 gallons per capita per day.
  • Reducing the hours for landscape irrigation as drought stages increase.
  • Updating water contract application fees and requirements.

See the proposed changes:

See the Nov. 9 presentation to the LCRA Board of Directors Water Operations Committee. The LCRA Board will consider the proposed changes at its Feb.17, 2027, meeting.

SUBMIT COMMENTS

Notice of pending water sale contract requiring LCRA Board action

There are no pending water sale contracts requiring Board action at this time.

Highland Lakes Dredge and Fill Ordinance permit applications

There are no permit applications pending under the Highland Lakes Dredge and Fill Ordinance.