Recent low tank levels, watering restrictions and service disruptions have understandably raised questions about our water system. Does the PUA have enough capacity? Why aren't our tanks refilling? Why does this seem to happen during the summer? Why has development continued? And what is being done to strengthen the system?
These are important questions, and we want to answer them as clearly and openly as possible.
1. Does the PUA have enough capacity to serve its customers?
Under normal demand conditions, yes. The capacity challenges we experience are concentrated during the hottest summer months, when irrigation dramatically increases water use across the system.
During cooler months, when irrigation use is significantly lower, the PUA does not experience the same difficulty keeping up with demand or maintaining tank levels. Normal household and business water use is not what is creating the current challenge.
Summer is different. Automatic irrigation systems can add millions of gallons of demand in a matter of hours. When many systems run at the same time, particularly outside the permitted watering schedule, total water use can exceed the amount the treatment plant can produce and replenish in our storage tanks.
That is why managing irrigation demand is so important during the summer and why the PUA is also investing in additional treatment, storage and transmission capacity for the future.
2. If we have a 20-million-gallon-per-day plant, why can't we produce 20 million gallons every day?
The Uplands Water Treatment Plant is rated at 20 million gallons per day (MGD). That number represents its maximum design capacity, not the amount of water the plant can continuously produce every day.
A useful comparison is a car's maximum speed. A vehicle may be capable of reaching a certain speed, but it isn't designed to operate at that maximum every minute of every day.
The same principle applies to a water treatment plant. Filters must be backwashed, parts of the treatment process must be flushed, pumps and equipment must be maintained, and other necessary operations temporarily reduce production. These processes are essential to producing safe drinking water.
In practice, our current plant can produce approximately 17 to 18 million gallons on a very high-production day. Actual production can be lower depending on operating conditions.
For example, when we report that the plant produced approximately 14 million gallons in a day, that is the total amount produced over that 24-hour period. At certain points during the day, the plant may have been operating at a flow rate equivalent to 17 or 18 MGD, but that rate cannot be sustained continuously for 24 hours because of necessary operational processes.
The plant is approximately 30 years old and is currently operating around the clock to keep up with summer demand. Even a new 20 MGD plant, however, would not be expected to operate continuously at its absolute maximum design capacity.
3. Why aren't our tanks refilling?
Our tanks refill when the PUA produces more water than customers are using. When customers use water faster than we can replenish it, tank levels fall.
We saw this in recent operating data. During one recent day, the plant produced approximately 14 million gallons while customers used approximately 14.8 million gallons. Instead of refilling, our tanks lost roughly three-quarters of a million gallons.
Where we start the day matters, too. 
We entered this week with tanks that had not completely recovered from high weekend demand. Sunday is a no-irrigation day, yet approximately 12 million gallons of water were still used across the system. As a result, our tanks did not reach full levels before the new week's irrigation schedule began.
Once we begin a high-demand week with lower tank levels, it can be difficult to catch up if water use continues to meet or exceed production.
This is why conservation during these periods makes such a difference. We need periods when production exceeds demand so our tanks have an opportunity to recover.
4. How much of the current demand is coming from irrigation?
Our recent meter data shows that irrigation is driving a significant portion of current summer demand.
In the period analyzed, approximately 84% of water use occurred in irrigation-sized bursts rather than typical indoor-use patterns. Approximately 88% of that irrigation-sized use occurred outside the permitted Stage 3 watering day or hours.
We also looked specifically at one 12-hour overnight period. From 7 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday, approximately 5.27 million gallons were used in irrigation-sized bursts, even though irrigation was not permitted during that entire period.
Overnight is normally one of the most important recovery periods for the water system. Household and business use decreases, the plant continues producing water, and our tanks have an opportunity to refill.
When significant irrigation continues overnight, that recovery does not happen.
We share these numbers not to place blame, but to help customers understand what we are seeing and why following the watering schedule has such an immediate impact. We sincerely appreciate the many customers who are already complying with the restrictions and helping reduce demand.
5. How much water can our tanks hold, and why don't we just build bigger ones?
The PUA currently has five elevated storage tanks and 12 ground storage tanks across the SH 71 and US 290 systems.
Together, our elevated storage tanks can hold approximately 4.1 million gallons, while our ground storage tanks can hold approximately 5.5 million gallons.
We are adding storage. Two new 1-million-gallon tanks are currently in design and are expected to be completed and online by 2028.
But additional storage alone cannot solve the problem.
Think of a storage tank like a savings account. When more water is being produced than used, the balance grows. When customers use more water than the system can replenish, the balance falls.
A larger tank gives us a larger reserve, but it does not produce additional water. If demand continues to exceed replenishment, even a larger tank will eventually decline.
That is why our Capital Improvements Program addresses the entire system, including treatment capacity, storage, pumping and the transmission lines needed to move water where it is needed.
6. Why do low tank levels affect water pressure and sometimes result in a boil water notice?
Our elevated storage tanks do more than store water. Their height helps create hydraulic pressure within the water distribution system.
When water levels in those tanks become too low, our ability to maintain adequate pressure can be affected. Customers in some areas may experience low pressure or, in more serious situations, a temporary loss of water service.
Pressure also helps protect drinking water. When a water line is properly pressurized, water pushes outward through a leak or small opening. If pressure is lost, there is a possibility that contaminants outside the pipe could be pulled into the system.
A loss of pressure does not mean the water has been contaminated. However, when certain conditions occur, the PUA is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to issue a precautionary boil water notice and conduct testing to confirm the water remains safe.
Maintaining healthy tank levels therefore helps us maintain pressure, protect the integrity of the water system and provide reliable service.
7. If the system is experiencing capacity challenges, why does development continue?
This is one of the most common questions we receive.
First, the PUA does not approve subdivisions, zoning or land development. Those decisions are made by cities and counties. The PUA's responsibility is determining whether and under what conditions water and wastewater service can be provided.
As of March 2026, the PUA put a moratorium on new applications for service and will not resume accepting them until we can ensure additional capacity is available.
Customers may still see construction occurring throughout the service area because projects that received service commitments in the past can take years to move through planning, design and construction.
New development also contributes toward the infrastructure needed to serve growth. Developers pay impact fees that help fund eligible capital improvements and, depending on the project, may be required to construct or pay for infrastructure specifically needed to serve their development.
The PUA evaluates future needs through its Capital Improvements Program, which is updated approximately every three years based on growth, projected population, system demand and infrastructure needs.
8. What is the PUA doing to increase capacity, and when will customers see improvements?
The PUA is making significant investments in treatment, storage and the infrastructure needed to move water throughout our service area.
One of the largest projects is the Uplands Water Treatment Plant expansion, which will increase the plant's rated treatment capacity from 20 MGD to 33 MGD. The project is expected to be completed in December 2027, with the additional capacity expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2028.
The treatment plant expansion is only one part of a larger infrastructure program:
| Project | What it will do | Current status | Expected completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Pool Transmission Main #2 | Adds nearly 20,000 feet of 20-inch transmission line to move more water from the Bee Cave Pump Station to the Hamilton Pool Pump Station. | Design complete and easements obtained. Permitting underway. | December 2027 |
| Uplands Water Treatment Plant Expansion | Increases rated treatment capacity from 20 MGD to 33 MGD. | Contractor selection and permitting underway using a CMAR process intended to expedite design and construction. | December 2027 |
| 1420 Elevated Storage Tank | Adds 1 million gallons of elevated storage at the Hamilton Pool Pump Station, increasing elevated storage capacity there by 250%. | Design and permitting nearing completion. | June 2028 |
| Highway 290 Parallel Transmission Main | Adds more than 40,000 feet of 30-inch water line from the Southwest Pump Station to the Countyline Pump Station. | Segments are in various stages of design, permitting and easement acquisition. Segment 2 is expected to begin construction in November 2026. | March 2028 |
| Cross Country Transmission Main | Adds approximately 35,000 feet of 20-inch pipeline from the Hamilton Pool Pump Station to south of Barton Creek near Ranch Road 12. | Segment 3 is expected to begin construction before November 2026. Segments 1 and 2 are in permitting. | September 2028 |
| Ranch Road 12 Transmission Main | Adds approximately 15,000 feet of 20-inch pipeline extending from the Cross Country Transmission Main toward Ranch Road 12. | Easements acquired and permitting underway. | December 2027 |
Planning does not stop with these projects. Approximately every three years, the PUA conducts a Capital Improvements Program study to evaluate population and development projections, system performance and the infrastructure that will be needed in the future.
9. Why not impose higher fines on customers who repeatedly violate watering restrictions?
Our goal with enforcement is to reduce water use, not generate revenue.
The current fines are comparable to penalties imposed by other water utilities in the region. We also receive a significant number of requests to waive existing fines.
At the same time, we recognize the concern when very high water users or repeat violators continue to place additional demand on the system. The PUA is increasing its focus on the highest water users and repeat violations so enforcement efforts can be directed where they can have the greatest impact.
Ultimately, compliance is more valuable to the water system than collecting a fine. The goal is to reduce demand when the system needs it most.
10. What can customers do right now?
The most important thing customers can do is follow the Stage 3 watering schedule.
Outdoor irrigation is currently limited to once per week, on the watering day assigned to your address, and only between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Please check your irrigation controller to make sure older evening or overnight programs are turned off. Repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads, and limit other non-essential water use while tank levels remain low.
We sincerely appreciate the many customers who are already following the restrictions. Every customer who reduces unnecessary demand gives our tanks more opportunity to recover and helps us maintain reliable water service for the entire community.
Water conservation will also continue to be increasingly important throughout Central Texas. The PUA will comply with applicable LCRA watering requirements as they take effect and will provide customers with information about future changes to watering schedules once requirements and effective dates are finalized.
11. Who oversees the PUA, and how can customers stay informed?
West Travis County PUA is a separate governmental entity. It is not a department of the City of Bee Cave, Hays County or Travis County.
The PUA is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. Two representatives are appointed by the City of Bee Cave, two by Hays County and one represents Lake Pointe MUD. The Board establishes policies, budgets, rates and fees, while the General Manager and PUA staff oversee day-to-day operations.
Customers can attend PUA Board meetings, review agendas and meeting materials, follow our Capital Improvements Program, sign up for water notifications and contact the PUA directly with questions.
We know reliable water service is essential, and we understand the frustration caused by recent low tank levels and service issues. Our customers deserve clear information about the system they depend on.
In the short term, reducing summer irrigation demand gives our tanks the opportunity to recover and helps us maintain adequate pressure and reliable service. In the longer term, the projects underway are designed to provide significantly greater treatment capacity, storage and the ability to move water throughout our service area.
We will continue sharing information about system conditions and infrastructure projects so our customers can understand what is happening today and what we are doing to strengthen the system for the future.