Because of the ongoing drought and triple-digit temperatures, the Brazos River Authority has directed its customers who access water from Lake Georgetown to implement Stage 2 Drought measures, which for the City of Round Rock means transitioning from voluntary to mandatory water restrictions (PDF).

The
BRA goal is to maintain an adequate water supply in Lake Georgetown
until new pumps are installed at Stillhouse Hollow Lake near Belton.
There is ample supply in Stillhouse Hollow to provide water to Lake
Georgetown, but there is not enough pumping capacity to deliver it.

Round
Rock implemented Stage 2 restrictions on Aug. 25. The BRA has stated
its goal is to maintain water demand at Lake Georgetown at 2008 levels
until the new pumps are installed at Stillhouse Hollow or when weather
conditions significantly change. The City has asked the BRA to fast
track the purchase and installation of the new pumps so they will be
operational in time for next summer’s watering season.

Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions for City of Round Rock water
customers (which includes Chandler Creek, Fern Bluff, Paloma Lake,
Teravista, Vista Oaks and Walsh Ranch municipal utility districts, and
Blessing Mobile Home Park), are:

• Outdoor irrigation with hose end sprinkler, soaker hose, drip irrigation only on water day(s), not between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• Watering
  days for single-family residential customers are Wednesday and Saturday
  for odd-numbered addresses, and Thursday and Sunday for even-numbered
  addresses.
• Watering days for commercial/industrial/institutional/municipal/multi-family customers are Tuesday and Friday.
• Outdoor irrigation with a permanently installed automatic irrigation system on water day(s) only between midnight and 10 a.m.
• Watering with a hand held hose or bucket is allowed anytime.
• Planting of new landscape is discouraged.
• Vehicle
  washing at a residence is permitted only on water day(s) and not
  between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Water cannot run continuously while washing
  vehicle (use of spray nozzle required). There is an exemption when
  washing for health and safety purposes (example: garbage trucks,
  ambulances).
• Charity carwashes are prohibited.
• The
  watering of the ground around foundations to prevent foundation
  cracking is prohibited except on designated outdoor water use days
  between the hours of midnight to 10 a.m. and between the hours of 7
  p.m. and midnight.
• Swimming pools, wading pools, fountains
  and ponds may not be refilled. However, this restriction does not apply
  to public swimming pools and wading pools equipped with filtration and
  a recirculation system that includes the gutter drains or that are not
  using water from the City’s water distribution system. However, public
  pools may not be filled if there are unrepaired leaks. NOTE: The City Council will consider an ordinance at its meeting Thursday, Aug. 27,
  that would allow private pool owners to refill pools only on their
  watering days. (This provision is similar to exceptions other Central
  Texas utilities have implemented for Stage 2 restrictions.)
• The
  operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making similar
  use of water is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic
  life.
• Golf course fairways may only be watered on designated
  water day(s), not between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Golf course greens and
  tees allowed every other day watering (must submit schedule to City
  utility department). Exemption is use of reuse or ground water.
• Fire
  hydrants may only be used for fire-fighting activity or other activity
  to maintain health, safety and welfare of residents of Round Rock.
  Exemption is use for land development and building construction
  purposes; however they must have written approval from Utility
  Director. Routine flushing of fire hydrants is prohibited.
• Street washing from hydrants is prohibited if water is potable; if water is reclaimed, it is permitted.
• The
  City shall voluntarily inspect water lines and repair leaks on a daily
  basis; and discontinue flushing of water lines and street cleaning
  programs.
• Water waste is prohibited. Examples are: failing to
  repair a controllable leak; washing sidewalks, driveways, parking
  areas, streets, tennis courts, patios, or other paved areas, except to
  alleviate immediate health or fire hazards, operating irrigation system
  with a broken head, misaligned heads, overspray, misting, or runoff.

Violation of the mandatory restrictions is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.

“Round
Rock’s water system has plenty of capacity to meet our demands,”
Utilities Director Michael Thane said. “The concern the City faces
surrounds our Brazos River Authority water supply out of Lake
Georgetown, not our system.  Even though the water model used by the
BRA shows that there is sufficient water in these dry times, we believe
BRA’s action is prudent.”