Water restrictions in Tuscaloosa, AL — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Tuscaloosa has a five-stage water conservation plan (Sec. 16-36) tied to Lake Tuscaloosa levels and demand. In Stage 2, irrigation is limited to two days a week by odd/even address. The mayor may also declare a water conservation emergency (Sec. 16-31) with fines up to $500 for violations.
The City of Tuscaloosa regulates outdoor watering through its own utilities code, not just state guidance. Sec. 16-36 establishes five water conservation stages triggered by Lake Tuscaloosa elevation and water demand: Stage 1 (mild, voluntary) at 212 feet or 75% of supply capacity; Stage 2 (moderate, mandatory) at 207 feet or 80%; Stage 3 (severe) at 202 feet or 90%; Stage 4 (critical) at 197 feet or 95%; and Stage 5 (emergency) at 191 feet or 98%. Under mandatory Stage 2, irrigation of landscaped areas is limited to Sundays and Thursdays for even-numbered street addresses and Saturdays and Wednesdays for odd-numbered addresses; hand-held hoses, a five-gallon-or-less faucet-filled bucket/watering can, or drip irrigation are allowed at any time. Stage 3 further restricts hose-end sprinklers to 6:00-9:00 a.m. and 7:00-10:00 p.m. and automatic systems to 11:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m., and bans washing hard surfaces. Stage 4 limits irrigation to hand watering or drip only, and Stage 5 prohibits outdoor watering entirely. Separately, Sec. 16-31 lets the mayor declare a water conservation emergency by executive order with odd/even watering schedules and other mandates; violations carry fines of $100 (first), $250 (second), and $500 (third), with possible water service termination after 24 hours. Sec. 16-30 lets the governing body restrict water use by resolution during emergencies.
Violating a mandatory conservation stage or the mayor's water conservation executive order is unlawful. Under Sec. 16-31, fines run $100 first offense, $250 second (up to 30 days), and $500 third (up to 180 days); the city may also terminate water service if a notice is not heeded within 24 hours. Each day of violation is a separate offense.
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