How to Protect Your Water Well

During Drought and High Demand

Published on April 17, 2025

Drought is No Joke in the Hill Country

If you live out here in Central Texas, you already know the drill—summers get hot, dry, and downright brutal. And when that happens, your water well has to work overtime just to keep up. The combo of skyrocketing water use and dropping groundwater levels can push your system to the edge. But don’t sweat it—with a few simple tips, you can keep your well running strong even when the rain refuses to show up.

So What Happens to Your Well During a Drought?

When the water table drops, your well might start struggling to pull water. If your pump isn’t deep enough or your system’s not built for tough conditions, you could start seeing weak water pressure, random shutoffs, or even a dry spell. Not exactly what you want in the middle of a heatwave.

Smart Tips to Help Your Well Beat the Heat

Here are a few down-to-earth ways to keep your water flowing when demand is high and rainfall is low:

Use Less Water Where You Can

Little changes go a long way. Fix those leaks, skip the daily lawn watering, and maybe hold off on that extra load of laundry. Every gallon you save helps your well catch a break.

Think About Adding a Storage Tank

A water storage tank is like a backup plan. Your well can fill it during off-hours, and you pull from it when you need a little extra. Super helpful if your well recharges slowly.

Spread Out Your Water Use

Instead of doing dishes, laundry, and watering the garden all at once, space those things out. Your well will thank you.

Get a GPM Test Done

A Gallons Per Minute (GPM) test tells you how well your system is performing. If your numbers are low, it might be time to upgrade your pump, drill deeper, or add a storage solution.

Use a Constant Pressure System

If you read Part 1 of this series, you already know a CPS helps keep your water pressure steady and reduces wear and tear on your pump—especially during peak times.

Wrapping It Up

Droughts come with the territory in the Hill Country, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with water shortages. With a few smart moves—like saving water, adding storage, and being strategic about usage—you can keep your well running smooth all summer long.

Next up in our Texas Hill Country Water Well Series: we’re digging into hard water problems and how to solve them. You won’t want to miss it.