City of Pflugerville
By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Drinking water supply is at risk for more than 64,000 people in Pflugerville, Texas, after the failure of a pipeline feeding water into Lake Pflugerville caused water levels to reach historic lows.
Pflugerville officials declared a water emergency on Wednesday, warning the decline poses an "imminent" public water supply failure and prompting the immediate activation of Stage 3 emergency restrictions limiting all water use to indoor purposes only.
“This declaration gives us the tools and resources we need to respond quickly and protect our community’s water supply,” Pflugerville Mayor Doug Weiss said in a press release. “Lake levels are at a critical point, and we must act now to ensure we can continue providing essential services. City staff is working around the clock to stabilize the situation, but conservation by our community is critical. If we all reduce water use now, we can help protect our supply and avoid more severe impacts. Every drop counts.”
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Newsweek reached out to the city by phone for comment.
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Where Is Lake Pflugerville?
Pflugerville, Texas, is around 20 miles north-northeast of Austin.
Lake Pflugerville is Pflugerville's primary raw water source, storing its supply drawn from the Lower Colorado River before being treated and distributed to more than 64,000 customers. The pipeline failure has sharply reduced inflows, and engineering projections indicate lake levels could fall below the city’s intake structure by April 18.
"HAPPENING NOW: The City of #Pflugerville has declared a water emergency, saying it's facing an "imminent public water supply failure." A pipeline feeding water to Lake Pflugerville failed, and lake levels will continue to drop. The city needs everyone to conserve water," KVUE reporter Quita Culpepper posted to X on Wednesday.
What Water Restrictions Are in Place?
Under Stage 3 restrictions, outdoor water use is prohibited.
Residents cannot irrigate lawns, fill empty swimming pools, wash cars at home, install new landscaping requiring irrigation, wash sidewalks or driveways, or operate ornamental fountains unless they recirculate water or contain fish. Residential patio misters remain allowed, but commercial misters are banned.
Lake Pflugerville is closed for recreation, though trails and playgrounds remain open.
When Will the Emergency Be Lifted?
The city has not set an end date, but officials "anticipate the temporary repairs to be complete within two weeks," according to the city's website.
"The more we can conserve now, the faster we can recover and lift restrictions," the website said.
Will I Run Out of Drinking Water?
City leaders stress that conservation is critical to avoid severe shortages. If lake levels continue falling, Pflugerville could lose the ability to withdraw enough water to meet essential needs—including drinking water, sanitation and firefighting—by mid‑April. Officials say every resident must reduce usage immediately to help prevent a full supply failure.
However, the temporary repairs are estimated to be completed within two weeks.
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