Water Supply Emergency Declared in Texas City
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The City of Kerrville, Texas, activated its water conservation plan starting at midnight on Tuesday after the region experienced deadly flooding this month that made its water plant inoperable.
Heavy rain across west Texas left at least 130 people dead, including girls attending Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.
The city cited flood damage at its water treatment facilities as a driving factor behind the new measures, which elevated water use protocols to Stage 4 Emergency status, the city said in a post on its official Facebook page Monday night. Stage 4 means there are "severe water conservation conditions" prompting the restrictions to address the emergency," the post said.
Newsweek has reached out to the City of Kerrville via email Monday afternoon for more information.
Why It Matters
Flooding throughout Texas led to widespread infrastructure disruptions, causing unexpected water emergencies for residents and municipalities.
Although excess rainfall might appear to relieve drought concerns, floodwaters often overwhelm treatment plants, damage vital infrastructure and contaminate water sources—leaving communities vulnerable to shortages and quality concerns.
These developments highlight the challenges Texas faces in balancing water supply, infrastructure resilience and conservation amid increasingly erratic climate conditions.
Severe thunderstorms prompt emergency flash flood warnings on the banks of the Guadalupe River during a search and recovery mission on July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
Severe thunderstorms prompt emergency flash flood warnings on the banks of the Guadalupe River during a search and recovery mission on July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas.
Photo byWhat To Know
The City of Kerrville officially declared a Stage 4 Water Emergency Monday, restricting all non-essential water use following heavy flooding that impacted its drinking water system.
"The plant remains inoperable due to the flooding to Nimitz Lake and its impact on the intake equipment, and other areas within," the alert said.
City officials said that the flooding forced shutdowns and repairs at its water treatment plant, which serves thousands of residents and businesses in the area.
Residents have been urged to immediately comply with severe usage limits, including a complete ban on outdoor irrigation, vehicle washing and refilling of swimming pools.
In Stage 4, the use of automatic and hose-end sprinklers as well as soaker hoses is prohibited.
While restrictions are in place and plant repairs on continuing, the city will use groundwater wells, according to the post.
The water that has been treated and provided does not pose a danger. The restrictions are in place to ensure the supply remains available.
Flooding often disrupts water treatment capabilities by overwhelming filtration systems, contaminating supplies with debris or runoff, and damaging essential infrastructure such as intake pumps or electrical systems.
In Kerrville's case, river surges caused by the recent storms made normal operations unsafe and unsustainable, leading to a temporary but urgent reduction in treated water production.
What People Are Saying
City of Kerrville officials, in a Facebook post Monday: "On July 28, 2025, the city manager for the City of Kerrville, Texas declared a water supply emergency for the city's water system. Pursuant to this declaration, the city manager has determined that the Stage 4 — Severe water conservation conditions is the most appropriate water conservation stage to address this emergency. The city manager made this declaration following information received from the city's water utility as to the continuing inoperable status of the city's water treatment plant. The plant remains inoperable due to the flooding to Nimitz Lake and its impact on the intake equipment, and other areas within. The city's entry into Stage 4 takes effect immediately on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 12 a.m., and the city has provided notice in accordance with Section 110-99 of the city's Code of Ordinances. Be advised that in Stage 4, automatic and hose end sprinklers and soaker hoses are prohibited on all days/times. City staff will continue to rely on groundwater wells to meet current water usage demands while plant repairs are continuing. Despite the plant remaining inoperable and the emergency declaration, there are no concerns regarding the quality of the treated water being provided. The implementation of Stage 4 is solely a water management measure at this time to aid in prolonging our groundwater supply. Stage 4 measures are identified in the table below. Further information regarding plant repairs, water conservation, and enforcement will be provided in future press releases. For more information on Stage 4 measures, please visit the City of Kerrville website at https://www.kerrvilletx.gov/ or call (830) 257-8000 for general questions."
What Happens Next
City officials in Kerrville said they would continue to monitor flood recovery efforts and water treatment repairs closely, lifting the Stage 4 Emergency once normal capacity and water quality are restored.
State and local leaders said that ongoing reviews of water infrastructure will inform future resilience investments.
For now, residents in affected areas face continued restrictions, with updates to be posted via official city communication channels.
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