"Water restrictions tighten in Austin as lake levels drop and usage exceeds production"

The City of Austin is implementing Stage 2 water restrictions due to concerns about drought. The new restrictions include limiting automatic irrigation and hose-end watering to one day per week, reducing irrigation runtime, prohibiting water waste, and restricting the operation of patio misters and large ornamental fountains. Failure to follow the restrictions could result in fines of up to $1,000 per violation. Austin has a history of prioritizing water conservation, and the community is expected to respond to the need to conserve water during the ongoing drought.