Splash into the latest water news for Austin as of Sunday August 3rd 2025 and it’s a whopper—quite literally as all that recent rain has flipped the local drought script. Let’s dive in with the headline: Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan — the city’s main reservoirs — have surged thanks to historical summer rainfall according to KUT reporting. Just in the past month, Lake Travis alone shot up by 20 feet between July 3rd and July 7th and is now over 70 percent full, putting some much-needed cushion back into our supply after months of worry. Clara Tuma with the Lower Colorado River Authority, or LCRA, says if more showers roll in, levels could continue to rise.
But don’t cue the water parade just yet — this fast rush of water comes with a splash of caution. Officials are raising red flags about venturing onto lakes Travis, Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, and Marble Falls for the next several days due to strong currents, floating flood debris, and a risk of increased bacterial levels from runoff. LCRA urges all Austinites to hold off all non-essential boating or swimming until advisories are lifted, which will be announced on their official channels.
Let’s talk tap—can you drink it? The Austin Water Utility’s latest reports show city drinking water quality continues to meet regulatory standards and remains safe for consumption. The annual 2024 Water Quality Report highlighted continued investments in infrastructure and ongoing monitoring, and as of this weekend, there are no new boil notices or restrictions across the city.
Turning to rainfall, LCRA’s Hydromet data shows that while Austin saw major downpours last month, the past 48 hours have been mostly dry. Specifically, rainfall gauges for Austin recorded no significant measurable rain since Friday morning, which is a welcome breather for swollen creeks and saturated ground. That said, soil moisture remains high and it’s wise to expect some lingering runoff issues downstream if more storms swing through in the coming days.
Climate-wise, Austin remains in high summer mode. Recent air temperatures are in the mid-80s during the nights and pushing into the upper 90s by day, so hydration is still the name of the game. Rainfall for August typically averages about 90 millimeters spread over 3 to 8 days, according to Weather25 com, so scattered summer storms are the norm—always keep an umbrella handy and keep gulping that H2O.
From a broader reservoir perspective, the region has exited emergency drought restrictions for now, but the Lower Colorado River Authority continues to advise all residents and businesses to conserve wherever possible. That means limiting outdoor irrigation, shortening showers, and eliminating wasteful practices like watering sidewalks, as persistent drought risk remains even after big rainfall events, according to recent LCRA bulletins.
On the future front, local leaders and Austin Water are evaluating new conservation strategies and potential upgrades for the controversial Handcox Water Treatment Plant, ensuring Austin is ready for any climate curveball. Conservation and resiliency remain long-term themes, but for this weekend, there’s relief knowing our water supply is in a stronger position.
Thanks for tuning in to Austin’s freshest water update and remember to subscribe for all your essential news and local insights. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Some great Deals
https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out
http://www.quietplease.ai
