Bexar County has been experiencing severe to extreme drought for the past 57 weeks, starting in October 2024. The City of San Antonio is receiving below average rainfall this year, only reaching 64% of the typical rainfall since 2022. Additionally, Canyon Lake is draining at an alarming rate and is only 64% full since Sept. 9. 

The Guadalupe River receives rainfall and feeds into Canyon Lake; however, flow has decreased due to lower water levels. 

Canyon Lake water levels have gone down two feet — more than a foot a month — losing 75 million gallons of water per day. Canyon Lake is a major water source for Hill Country communities, and the low rainfall poses a threat.

San Antonio Water System has conservation efforts as well as stage rules; currently, San Antonio is in stage three. The rule states when water can be used, how it can be used as well as what is restricted for residents. The efforts are to help conserve water as well as lower water bills. SAWS has saved its customers over 1 trillion gallons of water to date.  

Medina Lake is in worse condition. Located approximately 40 miles west of San Antonio, it is only at 1.9% capacity; there are no major water commitments for Medina Lake, unlike Canyon Lake. Medina Lake historically supplied water to San Antonio, but due to low water levels and poor quality, supply ended in 2015. 

All three bodies of water are suffering from the drought, affecting the surrounding communities and their water supply. It is likely that San Antonio will receive the rain headed for Texas in the next 10 days, with storms coming in on Thursday. San Antonio is at its largest deficit of 45 inches of rainfall. Even with the devastating floods hitting the hill country in July, the lake levels are still dropping.