Abilene, Texas — The City of Abilene is implementing new water restrictions to address the ongoing water shortage in the area. Beginning on August 7, the City of Abilene and Abilene Water Utilities will enforce a year-round, two-day a week watering restriction to conserve water resources and ensure sustainable usage.
According to a press release from the City, these restrictions mark the second stage of their year-round water use management program. The decision to implement these measures comes as the combined capacity between Lake Fort Phantom Hill and Hubbard Creek Reservoir hovers between 40-50%. Despite the current combined capacity of 51.8%, the City is taking proactive steps due to the lack of significant rainfall to replenish the lake levels.
Both Lake Fort Phantom Hill and Hubbard Creek Reservoir have been experiencing a general decline in water levels since 2021. Additionally, Lake O.H. Ivie has not been at full capacity since around 1997, highlighting the long-standing water scarcity issues in the region.
The City has not set an end date for these restrictions, as multiple factors will influence the timeline, including rainfall patterns, water inflow into the lakes and reservoirs, and overall water demand and usage in the area.
The new watering schedule dictates that odd-numbered addresses may water their lawns on Thursdays and Sundays between midnight to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. until midnight. Even-numbered addresses are permitted to water on Tuesdays and Saturdays during the same time frames. Schools, commercial, industrial, and government entities may water their lawns on Mondays and Fridays within the specified time slots.
In 2022, the Abilene City Council approved a revised water conservation plan to address the ongoing water scarcity issues. The updated plan incorporates engineering studies evaluating drought resilience and includes multiple water sources such as O.H. Ivie Reservoir, indirect reuse into Fort Phantom Hill, and a contracted supply from Possum Kingdom Reservoir through the Brazos River Authority.
The new restrictions are based on water levels in both Lake Fort Phantom Hill and Hubbard Creek Reservoir, a departure from the previous plan that solely focused on Lake Fort Phantom Hill’s water levels. The year-round water conservation plan consists of two stages: three days a week or two days a week lawn irrigation, depending on the combined capacity of the two water sources.
Stage 1 Water Alert allows residents and businesses to water their lawns only once a week under specific conditions, such as high plant pumpage and falling water storage levels. Stage 2 Water Warning further restricts watering to once every two weeks, triggered by continued high pumpage and declining water storage levels. Stage 3 Water Emergency prohibits all watering activities, activated in extreme cases of high pumpage and critically low water storage levels.
Overall, the City of Abilene’s new water restrictions and conservation plan aim to promote responsible water usage, protect valuable water resources, and ensure the sustainability of water supply for the community. By adhering to these guidelines, residents and businesses can contribute to the collective effort to mitigate water scarcity issues and preserve the environment for future generations.