Press Releases

BPUB: Stage 2 Water Restrictions Initiated

Due to dropping water reservoir levels, the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) will implement water restrictions under Stage Two of the Drought Contingency Plan effective Friday, July 29, 2022. Stage Two is implemented when water levels at the Amistad and Falcon International Reservoirs reach 25 percent or 834,600 acre-feet.

“Water conservation is vital to BPUB’s water supply,” said John S. Bruciak, General Manager and CEO. “Conservation helps ensure that the city’s water supply can get us through these summer months.”

The goal of Stage 2 is a five percent reduction in average daily water demands and a ten percent reduction in maximum daily water demands on BPUB. Listed below are the restrictions under Stage 2 set forth by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ):

  • Vehicle washing is allowed two days a week between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.
  • Non-essential watering is prohibited, such as washing buildings, using water for dust control, or allowing water to runoff into streets.
  • Lawn watering by a sprinkler system is restricted to two days a week based on the last digit of the service area and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Variances must be acquired from the BPUB office to water new landscapes outside the landscape irrigation schedule for four weeks since the date of planting.

BPUB’s Water Plant No.1 and Water Plant No. 2 can provide a maximum of 40 million gallons of water daily to meet the needs of Brownsville residents. To further support water demands, especially during drought conditions, BPUB’s 93 percent share of the Southmost Regional Water Authority (SRWA), a brackish groundwater treatment facility, ensures that customers always count on an alternate water source, reducing reliance on the Rio Grande.

Customers can rest assured that BPUB will continue to provide the best service to residents and keep them abreast of any developments in the area’s drought conditions. For more information on the Drought Contingency Plan and its different stages, customers visit www.brownsville-pub.com.