LCRA CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL LAKE PUMPS

  

In an effort to protect their water supply for Central Texas, the Lower Colorado River Authority, the LCRA, is cracking down on illegal water pumping.

The LCRA says homeowners along the Highland Lakes and the lower Colorado River are illegally pumping water for irrigation and home use.  They estimate that about 6000 pumps operate in the Highland Lakes alone, and not all of them are legal.  LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson says the LCRA offers contracts for anyone wishing to draw water from its lakes and rivers.  However, not everyone has purchased such a contract.

With dry conditions only worsening this summer, the LCRA is stepping up its efforts to regulate pumps along its waterways.  They have sent thousands of letters to homeowners informing them of the required domestic use contracts.  The number of contracts have increased from 60 in 2009, to over 3700 this summer.  For those who haven’t complied, the LCRA is stepping up patrols on the lakes beginning August first.  Additional personnel are being brought in to look for violators.  Increased patrols will also be conducted along the Colorado River from Austin to Matagorda.

Wilson says “I want people to know we are serious.”  He says violators will be turned over to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for prosecution.

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