Watering Restrictions

STAGE ONE:

Stage One Restrictions begin when the aquifer level drops to 660 feet mean sea level at the monitored well.
 

• Water waste is prohibited at all times. Water waste includes allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, or drain; or failing to repair a controllable leak.
• You should reduce water consumption by any means available.
• All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered with evaporation screens when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used.
• Hand watering with a hand-held hose, soaker hose, drip irrigation, bucket or watering can is permitted any time and any day.
• Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions to this rule may be requested from SAWS in writing.
• Residential washing of vehicles or other equipment is allowed only on assigned watering days and times. A hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle or bucket of five gallons or less may be used. Water should not be allowed to run into the street.
• The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
• Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must submit a conservation plan to SAWS. For submittal requirements operators should contact SAWS Conservation Department at 704-SAVE. Golf courses, athletic fields and parks may not irrigate between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Landscape areas on golf courses not directly "in play" are required to follow one-day-per-week watering based on address unless otherwise instructed by SAWS.
• Use of fountains, waterfalls, or other aesthetic water features — outdoors or indoors — is prohibited, unless a variance has been granted for 100 percent non-potable water use.

Under Stage One, outdoor watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system is allowed only once a week before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. as determined by the last number of your street address:

• 0 or 1 – Monday
• 2 or 3 – Tuesday
• 4 or 5 – Wednesday
• 6 or 7 – Thursday
• 8 or 9 – Friday
• No watering on weekends

Areas without a street address, such as medians and neighborhood entryways, water on Wednesday.

Watering days begin and end at midnight; overnight watering is not allowed. Water waste, such as water running down the street, is prohibited year-round. However, watering with a handheld hose, soaker hose, or drip irrigation is still allowed any day, any time.

Source: San Antonio Water System

CLICK HERE for more details about Stage One water restrictions.

CLICK HERE to find out more about all of the drought restriction levels and guidelines.

STAGE TWO:

Stage Two Alert begins when the Aquifer level reaches 650 feet mean sea level at the monitored well.

• All restrictions from Stage One remain in effect, unless added to or replaced by Stage Two rules.
• Landscape watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose is allowed only once a week from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on your designated watering day, as determined by your address.
• Watering with drip irrigation or 5-gallon bucket is permitted any day, but only between 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.
• Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day.
• Use of fountains, waterfalls, or other aesthetic water features — outdoors or indoors — is prohibited, unless a variance has been granted for 100 percent non-potable water use.
• All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered with evaporation screens when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used for this purpose.
• Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions to this rule may be requested from SAWS in writing.
• Residential washing of vehicles or other equipment is allowed only on assigned watering days and times. A hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle or bucket of five gallons or less may be used. Water should not be allowed to run into the street.
• The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
• Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must submit a conservation plan to SAWS. For requirements, contact SAWS at 704-SAVE. Golf courses, athletic fields and parks may not irrigate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Hotels, motels and other lodging must offer and clearly notify guests of a "linen/towel change on request only" program.
• And don't forget to follow these year-round rules:
• Water waste is prohibited at all times. This includes lawn watering overspray and runoff.
• Restaurants may serve water only on request (to reduce dishwashing).
• Charity car washes allowed only at commercial car wash facilities.

Watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is allowed only once a week from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on your designated watering day as determined by your address:

• 0 or 1     Monday
• 2 or 3     Tuesday
• 4 or 5     Wednesday
• 6 or 7     Thursday
• 8 or 9     Friday

No watering on weekends with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system. Areas without a street address, such as medians and neighborhood entryways, water on Wednesday.

CLICK HERE for more details about Stage Two water restrictions.

CLICK HERE to find out more about all of the drought restriction levels and guidelines.

STAGE THREE:

Stage Three Alert begins when the Edwards Aquifer level drops to 640 feet mean sea level at the monitored well.

• All restrictions from Stage One and Stage Two remain in effect, unless added to or replaced by Stage Three rules.
• Landscape watering allowed only EVERY OTHER WEEK with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose. Weeks when no watering is allowed will be announced via local media and online.
• Landscape watering is allowed only from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on your designated watering day, as determined by your address.
• Watering with drip irrigation is allowed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but only from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.
• Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day.
• Use of fountains, waterfalls, or other aesthetic water features — outdoors or indoors — is prohibited, unless a variance has been granted for 100 percent non-potable water use.
• All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used for this purpose.
• Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions may be requested from SAWS in writing.
• Residential washing of vehicles or other equipment only on assigned watering days/times. No street runoff allowed.
• The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
• Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must reduce watering per city ordinance. For requirements, call 704-SAVE.
• Hotels, motels and other lodging must limit linen/towel changes to once every three nights, except for health and safety.
• And don't forget to follow these year-round rules:
• Water waste is prohibited at all times. This includes lawn watering overspray and runoff.
• Restaurants may serve water only on request (to reduce dishwashing).
• Charity car washes allowed only at commercial car wash facilities.

Landscape watering is allowed only EVERY OTHER WEEK, from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose, and only on your designated watering day:

• 0 or 1     Monday
• 2 or 3     Tuesday
• 4 or 5     Wednesday
• 6 or 7     Thursday
• 8 or 9     Friday

No watering on weekends with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system. Areas without a street address, such as medians and neighborhood entryways, water on Wednesday.

CLICK HERE for a Printable Stage Three Flyer.

CLICK HERE for more details about Stage Three water restrictions.

CLICK HERE to find out more about all of the drought restriction levels and guidelines.

STAGE FOUR:

Stage Four may be declared if the total supply of water from the Edwards Aquifer and other sources is insufficient to meet customer demand, even while complying with lesser restriction stages. Stage Four restrictions may be declared at the discretion of the City Manager upon completion of a 30-day monitoring period following Stage Three declaration.

Watering Restrictions

• For Stage Four, Stage Three landscape irrigation restrictions remain in effect.

Drought Surcharge

• A drought surcharge is assessed on all accounts for water used or assumed to be used for landscape irrigation. Surcharge is to remain in effect for a minimum of one complete billing month and will remain in effect if stage IV is still in effect at the beginning of the next billing month.

Other Restrictions

• Additional restrictions on water use may be established at the discretion of the City Council.

Stage 4 restrictions continue until there is an announcement in the newspaper that Stage 4 has been canceled.

CLICK HERE for more details about Stage Four water restrictions.

CLICK HERE to find out more about all of the drought restriction levels and guidelines.

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• San Marcos
• Fredericksburg