Some Round Rock residents asked to conserve water after water main break - Austin American-Statesman

Round Rock residents, west of I-35, asked to conserve water due to break

Some Round Rock residents asked to conserve water after water main break
Fernanda Figueroa

Round Rock residents west of Interstate 35 are being asked to conserve water use through Tuesday after a water main break on Friday morning.

Residents in the Fern Bluff, Vista Oaks, Walsh Ranch and the Tonkawa Springs neighborhoods are asked to limit water use, especially outdoor watering while city crews repair the break. More than 11,000 single family homes are affected by the break.

The break is on a 36-inch water main on the south side of RM 1431, approximately 0.5 miles west of I-35, according to city officials. City officials said a third-party contractor has isolated the break and began repairs.

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City officials said due to the break they will only be able to provide 12 million gallons of water per day to residents in the area. Customers in the area have been currently using between 10 and 11 million gallons per day. City officials said the high usage is estimated to be from outdoor watering.

“Our diverse array of water sources is what is allowing us to continue to provide services to residents throughout this major repair, without having to issue a boil water notice or other drastic measures,” said Michael Thane, director of utilities and environmental services. “With the levels of outdoor watering we are seeing this summer, we need customers in this area to momentarily curb water usage where they can in the coming days to give us a little more breathing room. It’s incredibly important that we maintain pressure in our system throughout the repair process.”

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The city does not need to issue a boil water notice as it is able to pull water from the Brushy Creek Regional Authority. The city's main source of water is from Lake Georgetown through the Brazos River Authority.

City officials said repairs on the break will begin on Saturday and expected to be completed on Tuesday.