The City of San Marcos raised the drought limit to Phase 2 over the weekend as drought conditions continue to persist in central Texas. 

Only a few weeks after the city implemented the first phase of restrictions on April 4, stricter water restrictions began on Sunday. Tom Taggart, director of public services, urged residents to save water because if the drought conditions worsen, more restrictions may be imposed.

The city monitors the water level of the Edwards aquifer (the porous honeycomb aquifer rock underground below Hayes County) to determine the threat of drought. When the 10-day average index well water level in the Edwards Aquifer was below 650 feet above average sea level, San Marcos issued a Phase 2 drought limit.

According to the city’s report, last Wednesday, the 10-day average was 649.3 feet and the daily reading was 647.8 feet. The National Weather Service found on Friday that the aquifer was nearly 20 feet below the historical average in April.

"The water level in the aquifer is falling rapidly at a rate of about one-half to one foot per day," Taggart said in a statement. "We just entered the first stage three weeks ago. At this rate, we can easily reach the stage 3 limit in just a few weeks, so we must do everything we can to protect our water resources."   

According to the latest report from the Texas Water Development Commission, these restrictions were implemented during periods of severe drought in parts of Hayes, Caldwell, and Bastrop County. Travis and Williamson counties are in a moderately dry state.

This week's data from the United States Drought Monitoring Agency of the Alliance of Academic and Government Researchers shows that nearly 88% of Texas is experiencing some degree of drought. At this time last year, the figure was only about 28%.

The Austin area is still in a moderately dry state, and the drought monitoring agency says this usually means dry creeks and streams and more frequent bush fires.

More: Forecasters say Friday rains are welcome, but drought conditions may worsen

On Friday, the U.S. Meteorological Service said that due to the generally scattered and light rainfall, the continued drought in southern and central Texas had expanded last month. It said that the water levels of lakes and reservoirs also continued to show a downward trend.

For example, the rising water level of Lake Travis, where boating and swimming but also providing fresh water for Austin and neighboring communities, was affected by insufficient rainfall this year.

According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the hydropower and flood protection of Highland Lake, the water level of Lake Travis on Monday was nearly 657 feet above average sea level and about 12.5 feet below the historical average elevation in April. The lake is also believed to be only 65% ​​full.

In addition, Governor Greg Abbott put state resources on standby last Friday because the high winds and dry vegetation in West Texas could cause extreme fire hazards.

Residents of San Marcos are required to comply with a series of rules, including new restrictions related to drip irrigation, soaking hoses and decorative water features. Many restrictions have already been enacted in the first phase. 

Residents will specify the date of use of sprinklers by address. They can also use hose end sprinklers to irrigate before 10 am or after 8 pm on the designated watering working day. Residents can use the automatic irrigation system from 8 pm on the designated working day to the end of 8 am the next day. Soaking hoses or drip irrigation allows residents to deliver water on any day and any time on any day before 10 am or after 8 pm. 

Residents can only wash cars, clean impervious surfaces and water foundations at home every week. These restrictions also prohibit the filling of new decorative water features, such as fountains.

However, the National Weather Service said that the topsoil in central Texas this week may ease from Wednesday night to Thursday in the form of a storm.

The outlook on Tuesday and Wednesday requires gusts of wind, with only a 30% chance of rain, which usually translates into only light sporadic rain.

But there may be even bigger showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday night, accompanied by gusts of southerly winds. Forecasters say that by noon on Thursday, the 70% chance of rain will fall to 40%. Large areas of rainfall of up to half an inch may occur in this area.

Roberto Villalpando, editor of Politician Breaking News, contributed to this report.