Press Releases

BPUB Rescinds Stage 2 Water Restrictions; Stage 1 Still in Effect

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) announced the termination of water restrictions under Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan effective Jan. 13, 2023. Restrictions imposed under Stage 1 will remain in effect.

“Thank you to all our customers who made great efforts to conserve water under Stage 2,” Interim General Manager and CEO Marilyn Gilbert said. “Water conservation helps ensure BPUB can continue to supply safe, clean drinking water to the city of Brownsville.”

Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan was initiated July 29, 2022, when the U.S. combined water ownership at the Amistad and Falcon International Reservoirs dipped below 25 percent capacity. As of Jan. 6, 2023, the U.S. combined ownership levels are above 30 percent capacity, and have remained above that threshold for the past three months.

Forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service depict drought development remains likely for the Rio Grande watershed area over the first quarter of 2023. As a result, Stage 1 of the BPUB Drought Contingency Plan, which calls for voluntary conservation of water, remains in effect.

Customers can help conserve water the following ways:

  • Irrigate landscaped areas only from midnight-7 a.m. or 7 p.m.-midnight twice per week.
  • Irrigate landscaped areas with a hand-held garden hose, soaker hose, hand-held bucket or water can, hose-end sprinkler, irrigation system,computer-controlled irrigation system or drip irrigation system to reduce waste.
  • Reduce or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes such as washing paved areas or other hard-surfaced areas except to alleviate public safety and/or health hazards.

For more information on water conservation or drought conservation stages, please visit www.brownsville-pub.com or call 956-983-6121. BPUB also provides useful water conservation tips on its Facebook and Twitter profiles.