Desoto County, MS Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

DeSoto County, MS manages water use through MDEQ permitting under MS Code Ann. §51-3-1 et seq. (Mississippi Water Resources Act) combined with local utility rules. The county sits atop the Memphis Sand Aquifer, one of the most productive aquifers in the United States, which generally provides abundant, high-quality groundwater and eliminates the need for permanent water restrictions of the kind common in western states. The DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority (DCRUA) coordinates wastewater infrastructure, while individual cities operate their own water supply: Southaven Public Services, Hernando Water Department, Horn Lake Water, Olive Branch Public Services, and Walls Water Association all draw from Memphis Sand wells. During drought periods MDEQ may issue voluntary or mandatory conservation advisories; utilities typically respond with odd-even address outdoor watering schedules, prohibitions on watering between 10 AM and 6 PM (to minimize evaporative loss in Mississippi's humid heat), and suspension of non-essential uses like car washing in driveways, pool filling, and pressure washing. Restrictions during severe drought may limit lawn irrigation to 2-3 times per week. New construction and commercial landscaping projects may be required or encouraged to install drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation. Well owners on private wells are not subject to utility restrictions but remain subject to MDEQ well-spacing and permitting rules under MS Code Ann. §51-3-7. In contrast to California or Texas, DeSoto County water restrictions are almost always temporary drought measures rather than year-round rules.