San Antonio Watering Restrictions

Year-Round

Year-Round watering restrictions (listed below) are in effect when the Edwards aquifer level is above 660 feet mean sea level at the monitored well. These rules continue until there is an announcement in the newspaper that Stage 1 is in effect.

■Under Year-Round guidelines, all fountains – whether commercial or residential, or indoor or outdoor – are allowed.
■Landscape watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is permitted any day of the week before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
■Hand watering with a hand-held hose, drip irrigation or bucket is permitted any time of day.
■Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is permitted without runoff to avoid water waste.
■Water waste is prohibited at all times. Allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, or drain or failing to repair a controllable leak is considered water waste.
■Residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural Edwards Aquifer water users should use common sense and best practices to avoid water waste.
■The use of commercial vehicle wash facilities is permitted any day.

Stage 1

Stage 1 Restrictions begin when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level drops to 660 feet mean sea level at the monitored well. Coming out of drought stages can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger.
■All residential fountains and indoor commercial fountains can operate at any stage of drought. Outdoor commercial fountains must have a SAWS variance in order to operate during drought stages 1 through 4.
■Water waste is prohibited at all times. Water waste includes allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, or drain; or failing to repair a controllable leak.
■Watering days begin and end at midnight; overnight watering is not allowed.
■You should reduce water consumption by any means available.
■All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered with evaporation screens when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used.
■Hand watering with a hand-held hose, soaker hose, drip irrigation, bucket or watering can is permitted any time and any day.
■Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions to this rule may be requested from SAWS in writing.
■Residential car washing allowed during drought once per week on Saturday or Sunday as long as there is no water waste.
■The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
■Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must submit a conservation plan to SAWS. For submittal requirements operators should contact SAWS Conservation Department at 704-SAVE. Golf courses, athletic fields and parks may not irrigate between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
■Landscape areas on golf courses not directly “in play” are required to follow one-day-per-week watering based on address unless otherwise instructed by SAWS.

Stage 2

Stage 2 Restrictions begin when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level reaches 650 feet mean sea level at the monitored well. Coming out of drought stages can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger.
■All restrictions from Stage 1 remain in effect, unless added to or replaced by Stage 2 rules.
■Landscape watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose is allowed only once a week from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. on your designated watering day, as determined by your address.
■Watering with drip irrigation or 5-gallon bucket is permitted any day, but only between 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m.
■All residential fountains and indoor commercial fountains can operate at any stage of drought. Outdoor commercial fountains must have a SAWS variance in order to operate during drought stages 1 through 4.
■Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day.
■All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered with evaporation screens when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used for this purpose.
■Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions to this rule may be requested from SAWS in writing.
■Residential car washing allowed during drought once per week on Saturday or Sunday as long as there is no water waste.
■The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
■Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must submit a conservation plan to SAWS. For requirements, contact SAWS at 210-704-SAVE. Golf courses, athletic fields and parks may not irrigate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
■Hotels, motels and other lodging must offer and clearly notify guests of a “linen/towel change on request only” program.

Stage 3

Stage 3 Restrictions begin when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level drops to 640 feet mean sea level at the monitored well. Coming out of drought stages can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger.
■All restrictions from Stage 1 and Stage 2 remain in effect, unless added to or replaced by Stage 3 rules.
■Landscape watering allowed only every other week with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose. Weeks when no watering is allowed will be announced via local media and online.
■Landscape watering is allowed only from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. on your designated watering day, as determined by your address.
■Watering with drip irrigation is allowed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but only from 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m.
■Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day.
■All residential fountains and indoor commercial fountains can operate at any stage of drought. Outdoor commercial fountains must have a SAWS variance in order to operate during drought stages 1 through 4.
■All non-public swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used for this purpose.
■Washing impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited. Health and safety exceptions may be requested from SAWS in writing.
■Residential car washing allowed during drought once per week on Saturday or Sunday as long as there is no water waste.
■The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
■Operators of golf courses, athletic fields and parks must reduce watering per city ordinance. For requirements, call 704-SAVE.
■Hotels, motels and other lodging must limit linen/towel changes to once every three nights, except for health and safety.

Stage 4

Stage 4 may be declared if the total supply of water from the Edwards Aquifer and other sources is insufficient to meet customer demand, even while complying with lesser restriction stages. Stage 4 restrictions may be declared at the discretion of the City Manager upon completion of a 30-day monitoring period following Stage 3 declaration.

Watering Restrictions

For Stage 4, Stage 3 landscape irrigation restrictions remain in effect.

Drought Surcharge

A drought surcharge is assessed on all accounts for water used or assumed to be used for landscape irrigation. Surcharge is to remain in effect for a minimum of one complete billing month and will remain in effect if Stage 4 is still in effect at the beginning of the next billing month.