The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) has escalated water restrictions from Stage 3 to Stage 4 Critical Period Management for Edwards groundwater permit holders in the San Antonio Pool. This affects permit holders within Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Medina counties.
The EAA confirmed that the ten-day rolling average at Comal Springs was 99 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Thursday, June 6, 2024. This triggers the Stage 4 protocol, which reduces the annual authorized withdrawal amounts by 40 percent for affected permit holders. This reduction applies to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than three acre-feet annually, including industrial, agricultural users, and water utilities.
Affected permit holders must report their monthly pumping totals to the EAA. Residents and businesses should follow directives from their respective water providers regarding water use. The EAA does not enforce local lawn watering schedules or other general water use limitations, which are managed by local municipalities and water providers.
The EAA is a groundwater conservation district managing the Edwards Aquifer, serving about two-and-a-half million South Central Texans. Its jurisdiction spans eight counties, including Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal, and Hays counties.
