Austin City Council adopts resolution to track large-volume water users and encourage conservation
August 4, 2026
- What: City Council adopted a resolution on July 23 to begin tracking large-volume water use and to create incentives for conservation.
- Who: The resolution involves Austin Water, the city manager, City Council members including District 9 Council Member Zohaib Qadri, and large water customers such as the University of Texas.
- Where: The action was taken by the City of Austin and will be reviewed by the Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee.
- Why it matters: The measure establishes a process to oversee customers that use large amounts of water, a concern as data center development and other large users expand in Central Texas.
Austin City Council adopted a resolution on July 23 directing staff to track customers that consume very large amounts of water and to pursue measures that encourage conservation. The resolution does not impose instant limits on developers, but it instructs city staff to build the administrative tools that could support future restrictions.
Under the resolution the city manager will present recommendations to the Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee by December 9. Those recommendations are to include a new large-volume customer application process, conservation plans and requirements for reclaimed water use, all intended to increase oversight of heavy users.
Austin Water is already pursuing major infrastructure investments to broaden supply, including desalination, aquifer storage and upgraded wastewater treatment, the resolution notes. The city framed the move as part of long term planning to protect drinking water availability as demand grows.
Statewide activity put additional pressure on local officials. A June legislative hearing showed only 17 percent of data centers surveyed in 2025 reported projected water use, and several Texas jurisdictions have moved to constrain data center growth. San Marcos banned data centers on June 16 through zoning and moratoriums, and the governor asked state regulators to audit data center projects before approvals proceed.
Austin Water defines large-volume customers as those using more than 85 million gallons at a single location in a year. Research cited in city materials shows medium sized data centers can consume more than 100 million gallons annually, while very large facilities can use an order of magnitude more.
The resolution could affect major municipal customers. City presentations show the University of Texas was among Austin Water's three highest users from 2021 to 2025. In 2025 the city supplied about 860,000 gallons to the school, and Austin Water provides roughly 80 percent of the university's potable water needs; an on-site reclamation project called UT WaterHub is expected to reduce the university's demand by about half.
Council members and community groups debated the measure at the meeting. Supporters framed it as a step toward accountability and protecting residents' supply. Some commenters criticized the removal of a stakeholder input process and urged stronger analysis of how large users affect smaller customers. Austin Water said it will act on the council direction and deliver the December response.
Sources
- City Council resolution
- Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee presentation
- Governor's press release
- City communications from Austin Water
- University spokesperson email
- Public comment at council meeting
- Statements from environmental groups