City nears Stage 2 water restrictions

Even with the abundant rain since the wintertime, the drought in South Texas is far from over.

"If you look at lake levels for example, the surface stream levels, they still have not gotten back to normal. So we need to look at those indicators before we really determine that we're out of a drought," said Roland Ruiz, spokesperson for the Edwards Aquifer Authority.

A few weeks ago, water was still bubbling up out of San Pedro Springs, but no longer.

"The aquifer is reacting just as we thought it would once the irrigation season kicked in," said Ruiz.

The aquifer level is now on the verge of forcing San Antonio into Stage II cutting back the hours you can water your yard on your designated day to 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Another reason for the steep decline in the aquifer's level: people may not have realized that Stage 1 was in effect.

"Its still so beautiful outside. Its kind of hard to believe. Its still pretty. Our plants still look great, " said Karen Guz, Director of Conservation at San Antonio Water System.

Making sure your irrigation system is working properly can keep you in the green in more ways than one.

"Turn it on for one minute. Go take a quick look. Walk the zones because that gushing hole where the head popped out is going to cost you a lot of money on your water bill. you don't want that," said Guz.

Getting caught watering outside your designated time and day will cost you as well.

"If you're watering on the wrong day you won't get a warning for that anymore now," said Guz.

According to Guz, enforcement officers are patrolling at all hours of the day and night.

Fines start at $100 and go up from there.