Jacob's Well

Central Texas summers are no joke. Whether you’re new to Austin or have been here for a while, here are some places to take a plunge.

The popular swimming hole in Wimberley will not be open for swimming this summer. The Hays County Parks Department said increased demand on the local aquifer has caused Jacob's Well's condition to worsen.

The popular swimming hole stopped flowing over the summer for the sixth time in its recorded history, signaling poor health of the local aquifer. Thursday morning it had its highest flow in over a year following recent rainfall.

Aqua Texas has refused to pay the fee for pumping more water than allowed in 2022. It claims it is receiving "unlawful and unequal treatment."

Jacob's Well has had low flow all summer. A local groundwater conservation district believes it may be tied to a utility company pumping twice the amount of water permitted last year.

David Baker, executive director of The Watershed Association, a nonprofit conservation group, says this is the worst he's seen the well in over three decades.

The swimming hole in Wimberley will likely remain closed for the rest of the summer. The region's experience with droughts and an increase in private wells are causing a strain on the nearby aquifer.

It was supposed to open May 1, but an intense drought has caused the flow of water to reach an unsafe level. Conditions will need to change before the swimming hole reopens.

The news comes at a time when Central Texas is already dealing with one of the hottest and driest summers on record and bracing for even more heat and drought conditions in the coming months.

The popular swimming hole in Wimberley is a gauge for the aquifer beneath. Drought and more development threaten the waterflow — and the local economy that depends on it.