The City of Austin will implement city-wide water restrictions Tuesday in response to declining water levels in Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan.

Restrictions will enter stage two of the city’s four stages of water restrictions. Starting Tuesday the city will allow residents to water their property once a week, but as a state agency, the University will be exempt from any city restrictions. Last month, Austin City Council approved changes to the city’s water conservation code, creating a tier system that restricts water use in times of drought. UT already has a campus-wide irrigation system in place. In June, University officials reported saving 3.8 million gallons of water between March and May.

Stage two restricts water use to residents with even and odd addresses on certain days and only allows automatic irrigation systems to run before 5 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, Lakes Travis and Buchanan have dropped below half-full. Despite the high amount of rainfall this year, there are many who do not expect the lakes to recover.

Printed on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 as: City to restrict water due to low levels