Bastrop County hit with double restrictions

Residents must keep on eye on both fire and water

BASTROP – Effective immediately, Bastrop County citizens are asked to adhere to both a burn ban and stage 2 water drought limitations.

As a result of the unprecedented heat index covering central Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Aqua Water Supply Corporation have each put in effect restrictions to limit the risk of further public or environmental danger.

The county wide burn ban targets outdoor fires and burnings, set to last through August 14. The extreme heat and arid air excel the risk for potential wildfires and present a clear safety hazard, according to the TCEQ.

Residents are violating this burn ban if they ignite or cause ignition to any combustible vegetative materials outdoors. Any suspected fires will be responded to by the local fire department and extinguished. Potential fines may follow violations and escalate with severity.

Bastrop County is one of 98 counties statewide with an active burn ban.

Recreational and cooking fires may still be acceptable if particular safety precautions are adhered to. Check in at https://www.co.bastrop. tx.us/page/em.outdoor_ burning for more details.

The Aqua Water Supply Corporation is responsible for the water distribution outside of Elgin and Bastrop city limits. Their stage 2 drought response state targets the more rural suburbs, farms and ranches away from downtown districts.

Due to high system demand, some of Aqua’s more critical sites are seeing tank levels drop significantly. They ask that residents adhere to a few consumption restrictions in order to help prevent outages or subsequent boil water protocols.

The guidelines have users limiting consumption through irrigation, pool maintenance, cleaning, restaurant service and more. Violations may result in forced restrictions and eventual water service termination. The full list of constraints can be found at https://www. aquawsc.com/.

Both the burn ban and drought have the potential to last several weeks. The TCEQ will reevaluate conditions on August 14 and decide if an extension is necessary.