Even tighter water restrictions were issued for New Braunfels Thursday after the Edwards Aquifer continued to drop.

On Thursday, the aquifer level was at 639.6 feet, resulting in Stage 3 water restrictions. Under stage 3 restrictions, landscape watering using a sprinkler or irrigation system is only permitted one day per week, every other week according to the last digit of the customer's address.

The new watering schedule will begin the second week after August 10, so NBU customers can continue watering their lawns one day a week until the week of August 27.

During the week of August 27, there will be no watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system.

The week of September 3, customers will be allowed to use a sprinkler or irrigation system on their designated day. Those are as follows:
0 or 1: Monday
2 or 3: Tuesday
4 or 5: Wednesday
6 or 7: Thursday
8 or 9: Friday

All watering, whether with a sprinkler or irrigation system, a hand held hose, bucket, drip irrigation system or soaker hose, must be done before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Use of a hand held hose, bucket, drip irrigation system, or soaker hose will continue to be allowed any day of the week before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

“Our community is at a point where all uses of water have to be taken into consideration as we strive to manage our supplies in order to have the water needed for cooking, cleaning and bathing, as well as to maintain our springs and sustain the many species of fish and animals that rely on it for life,” NBU Communications Manager Gretchen Reuwer said. “Since industry experts estimate that approximately 50 percent of residential water use is used for landscaping and other outdoor activities, this is an area where significant reductions have to continue to be made by everyone.”

NBU water customers can learn any changes in water restrictions through the local media, by visiting www.nbutexas.com, by going to the NBU Facebook page, or by calling the NBU Information Line at (830) 608-8925