For families in Potranco Ranch West, the latest drought restrictions mean something very practical: everyday water use—especially outdoor watering—deserves closer attention as local utilities work to stretch available supplies through another dry Texas summer.

Yancey Water Supply Corporation, which supplies water to Potranco Ranch West, has announced that Stage 2 water restrictions are in effect, asking customers to reduce unnecessary water use and warning that tamper fees or failure-to-comply fees may be assessed for water uses that are not allowed during the restriction period.

The conservation push comes as much of Medina County faces broader water-supply pressure tied to the Edwards Aquifer. As of mid-August, the Edwards Aquifer Authority listed the San Antonio Pool in Stage 2 Critical Period Management, requiring a 30% pumping reduction. The San Antonio Pool includes Medina County along with Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties. 

What Stage 2 Means for Potranco Ranch West Residents

For homeowners, Stage 2 is a signal to rethink how and when water is being used around the house, particularly outdoors.

Yancey Water Supply Corporation is urging customers to conserve and has cautioned that fees may be assessed for unallowable water use during the restriction period. Residents should follow Yancey's current drought-contingency requirements and contact the utility directly with questions about whether a particular type of watering or outdoor water use is permitted.

The utility's message is straightforward: conserving now helps protect the community's water supply for essential uses and future needs.

That can mean checking irrigation systems for broken sprinkler heads, avoiding unnecessary outdoor water use, repairing leaks promptly and being more intentional about lawn and landscape watering.

Regional Restrictions Show Why Conservation Matters

Nearby Castroville has also moved into Stage 2 Water Use Reduction, with a stated goal of reducing total water use by 30%.

Under Castroville's Stage 2 rules, irrigation systems, sprinklers and soaker hoses may be used only on a property's designated watering day between 7–11 a.m. and 7–11 p.m. Hand watering, drip irrigation and gray water use remain allowed, while runoff into streets or drains, washing hard surfaces, watering outside approved times and allowing controllable leaks to continue are prohibited.

Those Castroville watering-day rules apply to City of Castroville customers and should not be confused with Yancey Water Supply Corporation's requirements for Potranco Ranch West. Still, the restrictions illustrate the broader conservation effort unfolding across Medina County as drought conditions continue.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority uses groundwater levels and spring flows at locations including the J-17 Index Well, Comal Springs and San Marcos Springs to determine when critical-period pumping reductions are necessary. The agency says the system is designed to balance groundwater withdrawals with natural aquifer recharge and help maintain water supplies and spring flows during dry periods. 

New Sod? Yancey Offers a Temporary Variance

There is an important exception for Potranco Ranch West homeowners who have recently installed new sod.

Yancey Water Supply Corporation allows customers to request a variance for freshly laid sod. According to the utility information provided, an approved variance:

• lasts for 30 days
• allows watering two times per week
• requires watering to take place between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Residents must submit the variance request by email or mail.

For households investing in new landscaping, that variance can provide enough flexibility to help newly installed grass become established while still limiting overall water use during drought conditions.

Why a 30% Regional Reduction Matters

A 30% pumping reduction does not mean every household simply receives 30% less water. Rather, the Edwards Aquifer Authority's Stage 2 designation reduces permitted pumping from the San Antonio Pool, putting pressure on communities and water providers across the region to collectively lower demand. 

That distinction matters for residents trying to understand what they are being asked to do.

The goal is not to eliminate normal household water use. It is to reduce discretionary consumption—particularly outdoor water use that can quickly drive up demand during hot, dry weather—so supplies remain available for drinking water, sanitation, firefighting and other essential community needs.

For a growing area such as Potranco Ranch West and western Bexar and Medina counties, conservation also has a longer-term dimension. Every gallon saved during periods of drought helps utilities manage existing supplies as residential growth continues throughout the region.

Small Changes Around the Home Can Add Up

Residents can make a meaningful difference without abandoning their landscaping altogether. Checking irrigation systems for leaks, adjusting sprinkler heads so they water grass rather than pavement, delaying nonessential pressure washing and avoiding excessive lawn watering can all help reduce demand.

The Castroville Stage 2 flyer also specifically prohibits allowing controllable leaks to continue and allowing irrigation water to run into streets, gutters or drains—two reminders that are useful for homeowners throughout the area even when individual utility rules differ.

During drought restrictions, residents should rely on the rules issued by their own water provider rather than assuming neighboring cities or subdivisions follow identical schedules.

Questions About Yancey Water Restrictions

Potranco Ranch West residents with questions about Stage 2 restrictions, allowable water uses or the new-sod variance can contact Yancey Water Supply Corporation at 830-741-5264. 

Residents seeking information about City of Castroville Stage 2 requirements can contact Castroville Public Works at 830-931-4090. 

With the Edwards Aquifer's San Antonio Pool currently operating under Stage 2 critical-period reductions, the conservation message across Medina County is likely to remain important as summer continues. For Potranco Ranch West households, knowing which rules apply—and making relatively small changes before water is wasted—can help protect the shared supply the community depends on.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Potranco Ranch West water restrictions, Medina County drought conditions and other local information affecting residents.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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