Rockland County, NY Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Rockland County water service is dominated by Veolia North America (formerly Suez NY / United Water Rockland), which draws from Lake DeForest Reservoir, wells, and the Hudson River (via the controversial but operational desalination-alternative Haverstraw Water Supply Project was cancelled in 2015). Some areas use Spring Valley Water, Haverstraw Joint Regional Water Supply Board, or private wells. Under normal conditions, there are no routine day-of-week landscape watering restrictions - Rockland does not impose California-style permanent water conservation rules. However, NY ECL §15-0801 and Rockland County Drought Plan allow drought emergency declarations with escalating restrictions: Stage 1 voluntary conservation, Stage 2 odd/even address watering, Stage 3 outdoor ban except hand-held watering. The 2002 and 2016 droughts triggered Stage 2 restrictions. NY DEC monitors Hudson River Basin conditions. Rain barrels are encouraged and unregulated (no Colorado-style rain capture laws). Well users must report wells producing over 100,000 gal/day. New Rockland County developments with lawn irrigation generally need engineered stormwater plans meeting NYSDEC SPDES General Permit requirements.