The aquifer levels across the county and in Wimberley have now reached historic lows causing regulatory agencies to start making calls for more drastic conservation measures.
“Aquifer and river conditions have not been this poor in the 20+ year history of the (Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District -- including the 2011 drought,” the district sent out in an email. “Unless conditions improve by the end of July, the district will enter into Emergency Drought Stage requiring a 40% reduction in use. Non-Exempt well operators will be required to substantially curtail water use.”
According to the release, “Western Hays County and the Hill Country have not received adequate rain to keep our rivers and streams flowing or to recharge our aquifers. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauges in the Pedernales and Blanco Rivers are recording zero to near-zero flows. The USGS reports similar zero-flow conditions in the South Llano, the Frio, the Sabinal, and the Medina Rivers. The Colorado and Guadalupe Rivers are declining as well. The US Drought Monitor reports western Hays County in Extreme and Exceptional Drought. The District’s Monitor Well System shows declining water levels. The District and local well drillers are responding to a significant increase of dry-wells and burnt-out well pumps. Water haulers are trucking at full capacity.”
Garrett Allen, general manager of the Wimberley Water Supply Corporation, agreed, and the corporation is moving into stage three water restrictions on August 1.
The drought of 2011 is at least the worst recent drought and in many areas it was worse than the drought of record in Texas from the 1950s. And yet this summer, it is worse here in Wimberley.
Four of the six wells the water supply corporation uses are lower than they were in July of 2011. The water level in the wells on Wayside Drive are 178 feet over the pump static level, which is 21 feet lower than in July of 2011. In Wimberley Hills, the water level is 12 feet lower. The Eagle Rock well and the South River well both are seven feet lower than in July of 2011.
“Rainfall is the key,” Allen said. “It always is. What is happening is the reason why the aquifer is the way it is in this drought is a combination of lack of rainfall not just here but where our recharge is. You have to travel out to Blanco County and Gillespie County and further west where we get our recharge… What has happened is there are so many straws in the ground up that way because of development and people moving in. They are beating us to the water. The recharge is not making it here. It is a lack of rainfall, the population increase or the combination of both.”
Allen said that the pumpage in Wimberley in July was “probably at a 10 year high.”
“That was a combination of usage by customers, but also leaks on our side,” Allen said. “We repaired a lot of leaks throughout the summer. As dry as it has been, and as brown as it has been, it has been a little easier to locate those leaks.”
Wimberley Water Supply Corporation will enter stage three restrictions on August 1. That means the corporation, and its customers, will have to see a 30% reduction in total water use and daily water demand based on historical average for previous 60 days daily pumpage. That was not achieved in stage two restrictions, which required a 20% curtailment. If those goals are not met in August and September, the district would enter into stage four, which is emergency drought restrictions.
In stage three, customers are required to limit irrigation of landscape to two specified days per week during a specified time with the use of a hand-held hose with a positive shut off nozzle. The use of hoseend sprinklers or permanently installed automatic sprinkler systems are prohibited. Visit wimberleywatersupplycorp.com for a detailed list of water use restrictions.
Allen said that customers need to get familiar with these restrictions not just for current use but for the future as he sees these restrictions becoming more common each year.
“What we are trying to get across to our customers, with a lack of rainfall in the forecast and people who have lived here long enough know, this isn’t going to change,” Allen said. “It is not going to get any better… If we get more rain, you’re still playing catch up. What we are telling customers is you are going to have to get used to this weather, this climate and these restrictions. They are not going away.”
While the Wimberley Valley waits for rain, there are many things that can be effective towards preparing for drought.
“We are asking customers to begin to invest in something other than an irrigation system,” Allen said. “We promote rainwater collection. I know it sounds crazy now because it hasn’t been raining, but they will pay off in the long run. Rainwater collections are a good supplement to potable water, certainly on the irrigation side. We are promoting xeriscaping. If you are watering a large portion of your yard, put in some xeriscape or a patio or drip irrigation, which loses a lot less water to evaporation. Even artificial turf. If everyone likes the real green color, invest in some of that. Work yourself into different things that will help conserve in the future and keep you from having to worry about keeping a large lawn watered when we are in these restrictions… You might be able to save your yard this year with hand-watering, but you can’t predict the future… We are probably going to roll right back into these restrictions.”
