Today, the Austin City Council adopted the 2024 update to Water Forward--Austin’s Integrated Water Resource Plan, which supports a sustainable and equitable water future for Austin’s next 100 years. Revisions to Austin’s Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan were also adopted by Council and will complement the strategies in the Water Forward Plan.

“Planning for our water future is critical. Central Texas continues to face rapid population growth, as well as climate impacts from more frequent and severe droughts,” Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said. “Today’s adoption allows us to advance our much-needed 100-year Water Forward strategies.”

Austin’s first Water Forward Plan was unanimously adopted by City Council in November 2018. It established the community’s first integrated water resource plan, and Austin Water has worked diligently to implement the plan’s strategies since adoption, including efforts to increase water conservation and water use efficiency, expand reclaimed water use through the GoPurple Program, and strengthen the diversity of Austin’s water supply. 

The updated 2024 plan builds upon the strategies from 2018 and incorporates the latest technical analysis and modeling, as well as extensive input from the community. The plan development process was led by Austin Water with support from the Council-appointed Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force. In addition, Austin Water convened a Climate Technical Advisory Group to provide subject matter expertise, obtained technical support from the University of Texas at Austin to develop climate projections, and retained a consultant to review its water loss program. A Community Ambassador Group facilitated broader participation from historically underrepresented communities in the plan’s Equity and Affordability Road Map.

“The foundation for the portfolio of strategies in this updated plan are based on input from the community we serve alongside the most recent population and climate projections that will impact the lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes system that provides Austin’s drinking water supply,” said Shay Ralls Roalson, Director of Austin Water. “The updated Water Forward plan provides a roadmap for our water future. It will take everyone’s commitment to conservation, reuse, and investing in long-term supply strategies. Together we can meet the community’s water needs for the next 100 years.”

The updates to the Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan support the strategies identified in the 2024 Water Forward Plan. These revised plans include new drought stage watering restrictions, more stringent water conservation goals for per-person water use, and goals to reduce water loss.

For more information about the 2024 Water Forward Plan, and revised Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans, please visit Water Forward | AustinTexas.gov.