Some need to lengthen the life of a limited water supply. Drought conditions statewide have only added to the problem, and recent scattered rain showers have done little to lessen water woes. One good way to alleviate this demand is to practice water conservation. Water conservation measures, both voluntary and mandatory, are being practiced across the state as drought conditions make the need for conservation evident. In the Rio Grande Valley, the Falcon and Amistad Reservoirs are at 22 percent of their capacity, their lowest level since the 1950s.
Citizens there are under mandatory conservation measures.
San Antonio and surrounding areas that rely on the Edwards Aquifer for water have enacted Stage 2 of their drought response plan which limits landscape watering to two days per week. San Antonio is not alone. Not all of the rationing is because of an impending shortage. The problem is not that these areas are running out of water but that customers have such a high demand for water in these dry times that water suppliers cannot keep up. These smaller systems are having equipment failure just trying to keep up.