Residents in Laredo, Texas, will soon face new water restrictions that limit pool filling to specific times once a week.
The restrictions were put in place in response to severe weather conditions in Eastern Texas, including heavy rains causing flooding in Houston and exacerbating drought conditions in Laredo.
Last summer’s severe drought had already lowered water levels in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state, with Webb County, where Laredo is located, showing 92% abnormal dryness and 13% moderate drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor Map.
In response to the water crisis, Laredo officials activated Stage 3 of the Water Conservation Drought Contingency Plan, implementing restrictions on pool refilling and outdoor watering, as well as prohibiting the use of automatic sprinklers.
Reservoirs like Amistad and Falcon Lake are at alarmingly low levels, with Amistad at 20% capacity and Falcon Lake below 9%, indicating a worrying trend of decreasing water levels.
The City Council in Laredo is already planning long-term water mitigation strategies due to concerns raised in a report by the Texas Water Development Board, which projected a water shortage in Laredo by 2040.
