Uvalde County has entered Stage 2 water restrictions.

Uvalde County entered Stage 2 water restrictions Wednesday, according to a news release from the Edwards Aquifer Authority, triggering limits that include when and how residents can irrigate their lawns.

The city of Uvalde states it will follow "regular conservation practices" in Stage 2 conditions, including encouraging residents to water before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., prohibiting the use of decorative water features unless they use recycled water, and adding a drought  surcharge to water bills.

The county joins several other San Antonio-adjacent areas in escalating their conservation of water after the 10-day average of the J-27 index well fell below 850 feet. Edwards groundwater permit holders pumping more than 3 acre-feet annually in Uvalde County must reduce their annual authorized pumping by 5 percent.

While the county enters its initial levels of water restrictions, areas like the city of New Braunfels and Alamo Heights recently entered the more severe Stage 3 restrictions. San Marcos and San Antonio remain in Stage 2. The San Antonio Water System chose not to escalate to Stage 3 despite the fact that the aquifer authority's San Antonio Pool 10-day average indicates it should do so.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority "does not enforce lawn watering activities or other general water limitations enacted," according to the release. It regulates Edwards well owners and their right to pump from the aquifer. Residents and businesses in Uvalde County receiving water from a public water system are advised to follow their "respective water provider's directives regarding water use practices."

Here's the full list of Uvalde's Stage 2 conservation practices: