Pearland, TX Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Section 9¾-16 of the Code of Ordinances, part of the Drought Contingency Plan adopted by Ordinance No. 1009 in 2001, defines a list of "nonessential water uses" that are restricted or prohibited whenever a drought stage is in effect. Item (7) on that list specifically covers "failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s)," placing the burden squarely on the property owner or customer once the city has flagged the leak. The plan explains in Section 9¾-10 that continuing such nonessential uses during a declared water shortage "constitute[s] a waste of water which subjects the offender(s) to penalties as defined in section 9¾-18," now enforced through Section 9¾-20.

Because this duty sits inside the drought plan rather than a standalone year-round ordinance, it becomes actionable once the city manager has triggered a drought response stage under Section 9¾-17 and the city has given the customer notice to make the repair; it is not a freestanding leak-reporting mandate that applies at all times. The plan applies to "all persons, customers, and property utilizing water provided by the city," per Section 9¾-15, so both residential and commercial water customers can be cited for delaying a known repair.