Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution repealing Resolution No. 20240502-004, which adopted a revised Drought Contingency Plan, and adopting an updated Drought Contingency Plan, which includes drought or emergency response stages due to water supply shortages, sets targets for water use reduction and other elements required by state law, as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Related to Items #3, #4, and #6.
De
Lead Department
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
May 5, 2016 - Council approved Resolution No. 20160505-0004 adopting a new Drought Contingency Plan and in a separate item Council approved related revisions to City Code Chapter 6-4 (Water Conservation).
November 29, 2018 - Council approved adoption of Water Forward, Austin’s Integrated Water Resource Plan.
April 11, 2019 - Council approved Resolution No. 20190411-002 repealing Resolution No. 20140417-004 and adopting the Utility Profile & Water Conservation Plan for Municipal and Wholesale Water Use as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
May 2, 2024 - Council approved Resolution No. 20240502-004 repealing Resolution No. 20160505-004 and adopting a Drought Contingency Plan as required by the TCEQ.
For More Information:
Heather Cooke, Austin Water Chief Administrative Officer, 512-972-0083 or heather.cooke@austintexas.gov.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
November 4, 2024 - Recommended by the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force (Water Forward Task Force) on an 8-0 vote with Task Force Members Faust and Lorenz absent.
November 13, 2024 - To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission.
November 19, 2024 - To be reviewed by the Resource Management Commission.
Additional Backup Information:
Austin is required by the TCEQ to file a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) and a Water Conservation Plan (WCP) under Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 30, Chapter 288. A DCP establishes a series of drought stages and the measures to curtail water use during specific times of drought. A WCP describes a utility’s water use profile and describes water conservation goals and programs to reduce water use and otherwise increase water use efficiency. These plans are required to be updated on a five-year basis and submitted to the TCEQ.
Austin’s last DCP was approved by Council on May 2, 2024. At the time of adoption, Austin Water committed to reviewing the DCP in further collaboration with the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force and in conjunction with the anticipated update of the City’s 2024 Water Forward Plan. The revised DCP and WCP will be presented to the City Council with the 2024 Water Forward Plan.
Highlights of Recommended Changes from the May 2, 2024 Drought Contingency Plan:
• Add restrictions regarding the use of drip irrigation similar to those on automatic spray and hose-end irrigation.
• Clarify the Stage 4 Drought irrigation restrictions and the definitions of Functional and Nonfunctional Turf.