Water restrictions in Travis County, TX — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) and Austin Water set watering restrictions for Travis County. Austin Water Conservation Stage (year-round): once-per-week watering by address, before 10 AM or after 7 PM. Drought stages escalate to twice-monthly. LCRA enforces Highland Lakes firm/interruptible water contracts. Violations carry fines.
Austin Water Utility enforces year-round Conservation Stage watering schedule: odd addresses Wednesday/Saturday, even addresses Thursday/Sunday, no watering Monday/Tuesday/Friday; irrigation only before 10 AM or after 7 PM. Drought Stage 1 reduces to once weekly. Stage 2 allows only hand-watering. LCRA manages Highland Lakes (Buchanan through Ladybird Lake) under the 2015-updated Water Management Plan; interruptible agricultural contracts curtailed during drought while firm municipal supplies continue. Travis County MUDs in Lakeway, West Lake Hills, Hudson Bend operate under LCRA wholesale contracts with their own rate schedules. Private wells in unincorporated Hill Country are largely unregulated but face Edwards/Trinity aquifer drawdown concerns.
Austin Water: 1st offense 300 dollar fine, 2nd offense 500 dollars, 3rd offense 1,000 dollars plus possible service disconnection. Reporting hotline: 311. LCRA contract violations: curtailment and civil penalties per contract.
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See how Travis County's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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