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Water Forward

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Water Forward is our plan for the next 100 years of Austin Water.

Water Forward is Austin's integrated 100-year water resource plan. It outlines diverse, environmentally conscious strategies to adapt to growth, drought and climate change — ensuring a safe, reliable, equitable and affordable water future for all Austinites.

The Water Forward plan was developed in response to the historic drought Central Texas experienced from 2008–2016, during which the lakes supplying Austin's drinking water dropped to critically low levels. This experience revealed the need for a long-term, integrated approach to water supply planning that accounts for a growing population and the possibility of droughts more severe than those we have seen before.

The plan balances reliability, social and environmental benefits and economic considerations, with strategies ranging from major water supply projects to demand management and reuse. Austin Water implements the plan using an adaptive management approach, adjusting strategies as conditions change.

Austin City Council first approved Water Forward in 2018, and since then we have implemented near-term strategies from the plan to help address water supply needs. Austin Water completed the plan's first five-year update in 2024, incorporating community input and guidance from the Water Forward Task Force. The updated plan reflects current climate and population projections for a range of possible futures.

Read the 2024 Update

What's New in the 2024 Plan Update?

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The 2024 Water Forward update refreshes supply, conservation and onsite reuse strategies. Learn more about each area of the updated plan:

2024 Plan Documents

Water Management Strategy Implementation Reports

Stay Informed

Sign up for the Water Forward newsletter to receive updates on plan implementation, community events and water resource news.

For questions, email waterforward@austintexas.gov.