Water Use Rules in New Braunfels, TX (2026)
3 verified water use rules for New Braunfels, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Turf Replacement Rebates
During a declared Stage III drought, New Braunfels caps new residential and commercial landscape installations at 50 percent turf under Code Sec. 130-228, requiring mulch and zonal irrigation for the rest. Property owners or builders who want more turf must get New Braunfels Utilities' written approval first; outside Stage III, the numeric cap doesn't apply, though Stage I and II impose their own variance-letter requirements.
New Braunfels 50% Turf Cap in Drought
Some RestrictionsNew Braunfels Code of Ordinances § 130-228 (Stage III, "Landscape Irrigation: New Landscaping Plants")
Installation of new landscapes is permitted only if not more than 50 percent of the available landscape area is planted with turf and if proper horticultural practices are followed, including use of mulch and zonal irrigation systems if a permanent irrigation system is installed. A user may file with NBU a request to install more than 50 percent turf.
Recycled Water Rules
New Braunfels allows reclaimed wastewater in landscape irrigation under City Code § 14-50(l), but only through purple-coded piping, backflow-protected potable connections and a posted bilingual warning sign, inside the same irrigation ordinance that requires rain and freeze sensors on every system.
New Braunfels Reclaimed Water Irrigation Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Braunfels Code of Ordinances § 14-50(l)
(l)Reclaimed water. Reclaimed water may be utilized in landscape irrigation systems if:(1)There is no direct contact with edible crops, unless the crop is pasteurized before consumption;(2)The irrigation system does not spray water across property lines that do not belong to the irrigation system's owner;(3)The irrigation system is installed using purple components;(4)The domestic potable water...
Leak Reporting Duty
New Braunfels ties how fast you must fix a leaking pipe or fixture to the city's drought stage. Sec. 130-228 requires repair within 72 hours of an NBU notification year-round, tightening to 48 hours during Stage I or II drought restrictions and 24 hours during Stage III, unless NBU's conservation coordinator agrees to other arrangements.
New Braunfels Water Leak Repair Deadline
Some RestrictionsNew Braunfels Code of Ordinances § 130-228 ("Leaks" rows, Year Round / Stages I-II / Stage III)
Leaks - Year Round: "Repair all water leaks within 72 hours of notification from NBU unless other arrangements are made with the conservation coordinator." Leaks - Stages I, II: "Repair all leaks within 48 hours of notification from NBU unless other arrangements are made with the conservation coordinator." Leaks - Stage III: "Repair all water leaks within 24 hours of notification from NBU unles...