Leander, Texas Announces Major Water Treatment Changes

News Summary

Leander, Texas, is preparing for the shutdown of its main water treatment plant on January 13, 2025. This change prompts the introduction of Phase 4 water conservation restrictions, limiting daily water use to under 9 million gallons and prohibiting outdoor watering. As the city’s only water facility reduces capacity, residents are urged to conserve water and report violations to ensure adequate supply. Future upgrades are expected to improve service capacity by January 2025.

Leander, Texas Prepares for Water Treatment Plant Shutdown

Leander, Texas, is gearing up for some significant changes as the city gears up for the shutdown of its main water treatment plant starting January 13, 2025. With this looming date, local officials have rolled out Phase 4 water conservation restrictions, which began on December 30, 2024. This is not just a regular alert; it’s a call for the community to come together and help conserve our precious water resources.

What Do the Phase 4 Restrictions Mean for Residents?

These restrictions are no small potatoes! As part of Phase 4, residents and businesses are urged to limit their daily water usage to under 9 million gallons (MGD). Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of this situation, on the day the restrictions began, water usage actually exceeded 10 million gallons! That’s well above the conservation limit and clearly shows the need for awareness and action.

If you’re wondering what specific restrictions come with Phase 4, brace yourselves: outdoor watering, including any form of handheld watering, has been strictly prohibited. This means, if you had plans to water your garden or lawn, you might want to rethink those plans.

How Will This Affect Water Treatment Capacity?

During the upcoming shutdown, the city-owned Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant will be the only facility providing water service. That plant typically handles a treatment capacity of 25 MGD but will be reducing that to just 9 MGD. That’s quite the drop! If residents don’t adhere to these conservation measures, it might lead to low water pressure throughout the city. In some severe cases, we could even face boil water notices or outages.

It’s important to take these conservation tips seriously. If you’re in violation of Phase 4 restrictions, you may receive warnings, fines, or even face water service disconnection. It may seem harsh, but it’s necessary to ensure that everyone has enough water during this vital time.

Be a Community Hero

Residents are encouraged to be vigilant and report any violations to the city’s Code Enforcement division. This isn’t just about following the rules—it’s about coming together as a community in Leander.

While mandatory conservation efforts might feel a bit daunting, it’s important to note that normal domestic uses such as drinking, bathing, and washing dishes remain permitted during this phase. So you can still keep your daily routine without worry—phew!

Don’t Forget to Check for Leaks!

In the spirit of conservation, Leander residents are also encouraged to check for any leaks in their homes and make immediate repairs. Even a small leak can waste gallons of water over time, which we want to avoid, especially in these challenging times. Each little action can add up to make a significant impact.

The Bright Side: Future Improvements Ahead

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel! The planned upgrades to the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) water treatment plant are on the horizon, promising to enhance capacity by 12 MGD in the future. The upgrade will also include the installation of a 78-inch butterfly valve to the existing raw water pipeline that connects from Lake Travis. This improvement is not just about solving the current issue; it’s about ensuring better water service for years to come.

Let’s work together to make sure our community thrives as we navigate the upcoming changes. The upgrades are anticipated to be completed by the third week of January 2025, so in the meantime, let’s show our city what community spirit is all about!