08/27/2026
Media Release
Thursday, August 27, 2026, 2:00 PM
This includes/affects: (not excluded to)
Fort Gates WSC
The Grove WSC
Flat WSC
MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTION IN EFFECT FOR ALL GATESVILLE WATER SUPPLY CUSTOMERS
A short time ago, in the late morning of August 27, 2026, the City of Gatesville learned that its main freshwater intake on Lake Belton was without electric power due to a transmission line failure under the operation and control of Oncor Electric. Crews from Oncor are arriving to assess the issue and restore service, however the restoration of electric power will take an unspecified length of time.
Therefore, Mayor Gary Chumley has issued a Declaration of Local Disaster and State of Emergency (attached), which implements a MANDATORY AND IMMEDIATE WATER RESTRICTION EMERGENCY. All customers who receive their water from Gatesville are impacted.
During the period of the Declaration of Disaster, the restrictions on water use are outlined as follows:
• Water shall not be used for:
o Fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or spas/hot tubs;
o Wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas;
o Wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
o Use of water for dust control;
o Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street;
o Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s).
• Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system.
• Irrigation of landscaped areas is prohibited at all times.
• Restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons unless specifically requested by the patron.
• The use of water for construction purposes from designated fire hydrants under special permit is to be discontinued.
• The use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorcycle, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited.
When restrictions are lifted, we will provide notification to the public. Violators are subject to a fine. Customers should do their part to reduce home water use: do not run washing machines, dish washers, or repeatedly flush toilets.
We are working diligently to source a generator that can serve the plant until power is restored.
More updates will follow, including if our water storage tanks are running low and water services may be interrupted, any necessary notices on availability of drinking water for pickup at aid stations, and any required boil notices that may follow restoration of service.
