Turn Off Your Sprinklers

If you live in Austin south of the Colorado, urgent news: Don't water your yard or wash your car tonight.

Yesterday a private contractor drilled a four inch hole in the main water pipe on Walsh Tarlton Lane that serves 60% of South Austin, so the Austin Water Utility is issuing an outdoor watering ban for Austin residents and businesses that side of the river.

Don't panic about drinking water: A reserve 48-inch main is being used to keep reservoirs full, but to keep water pressure up, no hosing down the lawn. AWU particularly warns homeowners to turn off automatic sprinklers, and avoid the Walsh Tarlton area while work continues.

The utility hopes to have all repairs done by 8am Wednesday morning.

Full press release after the jump.

AWU Officials Implement Mandatory Water Restrictions for South Austin Until Water Main Repaired

Austin - Austin Water Utility officials are implementing special water restrictions for all residents and businesses south of the Colorado River until repair of the damaged 54-inch water transmission line in the 2100 block of Walsh Tarlton Lane is complete. Under the restrictions all outdoor watering is banned until further notice.

Water to the main was shut off at 10:30 a.m. and AWU officials onsite are estimating that the repair will be completed by 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

AWU is using a secondary 48-inch main to keep reservoirs supplied during the repair. However, to maintain water pressure for drinking and fire protection, AWU officials are enacting the outdoor watering ban.

Homeowners and businesses that have automatic sprinkler systems are being reminded to shut them off so they don't begin watering in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The water main, which supplies approximately 60 percent of the drinking water for residents and businesses south of the river, was damaged by a contractor that inadvertently drilled a four inch hole in the pipe.

Drivers should avoid Walsh Tarlton Lane because all traffic is being diverted around the site of the repair.

City officials will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they area available.