AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin Water officials say great progress is being made in restoring the city's water system, but continued conservation efforts are needed to fully restore service across Austin.
As of Sunday afternoon, nearly 90 million gallons of water were in the city's storage reservoirs. The utility says a minimum of 100 million gallons is needed to help build pressure across the entire system, particularly in the northwest and southwestern ends of the system.
Officials are continuing to urge conservation efforts, limiting water use to essential needs so that water service can be returned to all customers more quickly.
Mandatory water restrictions remain in place as long as the boil water notice remains in effect, which include prohibitions on the following:
*Using water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment
*Washing vehicles, including at commercial car wash facilities
*Washing pavement or other surfaces
*Adding water to a pool or spa
*Conducting foundation watering, or
*Operating an ornamental fountain or pond, other than aeration necessary to support aquatic life
Utility officials say the boil water notice will remain in place until sufficient sampling can be done to establish that the water is safe to drink. Some of that sampling started Sunday in areas where water pressure has fully returned; those test results generally take 24 hours to process.
Officials hope to be able to lift the boil water notice by individual pressure zones, with customers in the central portion of the city likely to see the notice lifted first.