The Edwards Aquifer Authority’s San Antonio Pool was at Stage 3, with a 35% permitted-pumping reduction, when its status feed was checked at 11:31 a.m. Central on Oct. 21.
The change matters to large well permit holders drawing from the pool, including users in part of Comal County. The authority’s status feed identifies the current reduction for the pool.
The authority’s Oct. 20 status showed Stage 2 and a 30% permitted-pumping reduction. Its Oct. 16 notice said Stage 2 had taken effect Oct. 5 for holders authorized to pump more than three acre-feet a year, a group that includes utilities, agricultural users and industry. The move from a 30% to a 35% reduction makes the permit limit five percentage points more restrictive.
Diagram from the record
What the change means for water users
The Stage 3 reduction applies to permitted well pumping in the San Antonio Pool, which includes part of Comal County; household watering schedules depend on each resident’s water provider. A utility customer should use that provider’s current watering instructions rather than treat the authority’s percentage as a household watering schedule. The authority says permit holders’ pumping reductions are prorated by the number of days spent in each stage, and permit holders report pumping monthly.