UPDATED: Austin Water urges city to reduce water use

Update 11:30 a.m.: The city of Austin is now also on a boil water notice. Residents should boil water before drinking or cooking with it, or use bottled water.

Austin Water has issued an urgent call for all city residents to make efforts to reduce their water intake. According to a press release from the department: “Historic flood waters flowing into our region’s water supply lakes, the Highland Lakes, contain much higher levels of debris, silt, and mud. As a result, Austin water is experiencing reduced water treatment capacity. It is taking more time to filter and treat the water to remove the higher levels of silt and debris.” Apparently the enormous amount of extra water in the lakes is causing the water to be 100 times cloudier than usual, requiring that much more effort to deliver clean water to homes and businesses. Therefore, the utility is asking for residents to help out by reducing their water usage as much as they can, including by stopping outdoor watering and minimizing indoor water use by taking shorter showers and postponing washing clothes and dishes as long as possible. Visit AustinWater.org for updates, and follow the utility on Facebook and Twitter.