Bandera city officials are considering stricter water restrictions during a Stage 4 drought, including limiting pool use, as council members remain divided on how to balance conservation and property concerns.
At April 14’s regular meeting, Council member Tammy Morrow proposed aligning the city of Bandera with the county’s water restrictions at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, citing serious concerns over current drought conditions.
Part of Morrow’s proposal included restricting residents from filling pools as the city faces a Stage 4 critical water shortage condition — a suggestion council member Lynn Palmer disagreed with.
“I don’t think the county has the restrictions we have,” Palmer said.
Morrow noted the proposal is not new, as the city has aligned its restrictions with the county in previous years.
“We’re not as restrictive as the county is,” Morrow said. “One of the noticeable ones is the adding of swimming pools. The county does not allow it until Stage 3. We permit it all the way through.”
According to the city’s website, Bandera’s current critical water shortage includes a goal of reducing daily water use by 40% and restricts landscape watering to designated days.
Homes with even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., while odd-numbered homes may water Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Watering is limited to handheld hoses, buckets, drip irrigation, or permanently installed automatic sprinkler systems.
Although pools are not specifically referenced in Stage 4 restrictions, fountains, ponds and other aesthetic or scenic water features are prohibited unless necessary to support aquatic life or equipped with a recirculation system.
Palmer, who owns a pool on her property, argued the city could be held liable for damages if residents were not allowed to maintain water levels.
Council member Tammy Morrow addresses water restrictions during a Bandera City Council meeting. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Veronica Rector
“Those of us that have pools, those pools have to be a certain level,” Palmer said. “In order to not be damaged — especially those in-ground — they have to be kept at a certain level. We could hold the city liable for the damage to our pools.”
When Morrow questioned how that would be possible, Palmer responded, “Because that’s our private property, and we could hold you liable if you require us to not fill our pools at a certain level in order to maintain that pool so it doesn’t break or crack the concrete.”
Morrow did not find the argument convincing.
“What’s the difference between that and holding the city liable for my dead grass because I didn’t get to water it?” Morrow asked.
After a brief discussion, the council tabled the proposed resolution until members can consult with city attorney Matt Groves. Palmer added that she does support water conservation efforts.
On a statewide level, 89% of Texas was in drought, according to hydrologist Mark Wentzel of the Texas Water Development Board — the highest level in four years.
Bandera is currently at 500 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which ranges from 0 to 800, with 800 indicating the highest risk for wildfires.
“Also note that we’ve set a new monthly record every year since 2021,” Wentzel wrote in his report. “In 2021, we set the record for the hottest December. In 2022, it was the hottest July, hottest September in 2023, October in 2024, and November in 2025. Now March 2026 can be added to that list.”
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