BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – As triple-digit temperatures continue to strain water supplies across the Brazos Valley, city officials in Bryan and College Station are asking residents to voluntarily conserve water now to avoid mandatory restrictions later.
The call comes as demand for water has skyrocketed during the summer heat. The challenge: water towers are struggling to “recharge” their supply from local aquifers, leaving little room for error if an emergency strikes.
Rain chances increase as we head into the later half of this week.(KBTX)
“When water demand approaches a system’s production capacity, it becomes difficult for water towers to maintain adequate levels,” officials said in a joint statement. “At a high level of demand, little room for error exists in the event of a water line break, large fire, equipment malfunction or other unexpected event.”
What you can do
While water-use restrictions are not currently in place, city officials are hoping voluntary conservation efforts will prevent the need for mandatory measures. Here’s what residents can do:
- Limit outdoor watering to once or twice per week, preferably at night. Watering during the daytime results in significant water loss due to evaporation.
- Check your irrigation system for leaks and make sure sprinklers are watering vegetation — not sidewalks, driveways or streets.
- Report suspected water leaks immediately.
- Monitor the weather. Even small amounts of rainfall may provide enough moisture to delay your next irrigation cycle.
- Follow weekly irrigation recommendations from BVWaterSmart.org, which recommends two days of irrigation per week when rainfall has not occurred.
Keep demand as low as possible(KBTX)
How to report leaks
Bryan residents: Contact the Public Works Call Center at 979-209-5900, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For after-hours emergencies, call 979-822-3777.
College Station residents: Contact Utility Dispatch at 855-528-4278 or use the SeeClickFix app.
The bigger picture
Officials emphasize that these conservation steps are voluntary, not mandatory. However, by taking action now, the community can help maintain adequate water supplies for essential needs — including fire protection and public health — and potentially avoid the need for stricter regulations down the road.
“By conserving water now and following recommended irrigation practices, our community can help maintain adequate water supplies,” officials said. “Thank you for doing your part to conserve water and protect our community’s water supply.”
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