Water Use Rules in El Paso, TX: What Residents Actually Need to Know
If you live in El Paso or are thinking about moving there, water use rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. El Paso has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of water use rules, and some of them might surprise you.
Leak Reporting Duty
El Paso City Code § 15.13.030(B)(2) makes failing to repair a leak within five working days of discovering it a prohibited 'wasting of water' offense under the city's Water Conservation chapter. Any El Paso Water customer, residential, commercial or industrial, must fix a known leak inside that five-day window or face enforcement under Chapter 15.13.
Key details: Repair deadline: 5 working days after discovering leak. Classification: Absolutely prohibited 'wasting water,' § 15.13.030(B). Penalty: $50-$500 fine, separate offense per day. Nuisance declaration: Runoff into street/storm sewer is a nuisance, § 15.13.040. Enforcement: Water conservation manager issues citations.
Any person who lets a discovered leak go unrepaired past the five-working-day deadline is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 15.13.080, punishable by a fine of $50 to $500, with each additional day the leak continues charged as a separate offense. The water conservation manager and other officers authorized to issue Class C misdemeanor citations can cite the violation under Section 15.13.110, and the public service board's attorney may also sue for injunctive relief under Section 15.13.090 or to abate the nuisance under Section 15.13.040.
Turf Replacement Rebates
El Paso Water offers per-square-foot rebates to homeowners and businesses who replace traditional turfgrass with desert-adapted xeriscape plants, gravel, and permeable surfaces under its long-running Cash for Grass conservation incentive program.
Key details: Rebate: Roughly $1 per sq ft. Pre-approval: Required. Run by: EPWU. Status: Voluntary.
The program is incentive-based, so there are no penalties for non-participation. Misrepresenting installations on a rebate application can result in rebate clawback.
El Paso is more permissive than most cities when it comes to turf replacement rebates. That said, there are still limits.
Recycled Water Rules
El Paso Water blends Rio Grande surface water, fresh and brackish groundwater, the Kay Bailey Hutchison desalination plant, and reclaimed wastewater for non-potable irrigation, with an advanced purification project under development for direct potable reuse.
Key details: Desal plant: Kay Bailey Hutchison. Aquifer: Hueco Bolson. Reuse uses: Parks, industry. Future: Pure Water Center.
Cross-connection violations can result in service termination and TCEQ enforcement. Penalties for unauthorized reclaimed water use are set by EPWU rules and tariffs.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find El Paso gives residents more flexibility on recycled water rules.
The Bottom Line
Compared to many U.S. cities, El Paso gives residents more room on water use rules. 2 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.
These rules come from El Paso's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.