San Antonio Water System enforces year-round watering schedules and tightening drought-stage restrictions tied to Edwards Aquifer levels at the J-17 index well, limiting irrigation to specific days and hours by address under the Aquifer Management Plan.
SAWS enforces watering rules under its Conservation Ordinance authorized by City Council. Year-round, automatic-irrigation systems may run only one designated day per week assigned by address, between specific morning and evening hours that avoid peak heat. Stage 1 triggers when the Edwards Aquifer J-17 index well drops below 660 feet mean sea level for ten days. Stages 2, 3, and 4 add tighter time windows, fountain restrictions, vehicle-wash limits, pool-fill bans, and surcharge billing. Hand-watering with a shutoff nozzle and drip irrigation are typically allowed. Restaurants must serve water only on request during drought. The SAWS Conservation team patrols neighborhoods and accepts public reports.
Violations escalate from written warning to first citation around 250 dollars, second offense up to 1,000 dollars, and recurring violations up to 2,000 dollars. Persistent abuse can trigger flow restrictors at the meter at the customer's expense.
See how San Antonio's lawn watering restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.