Augusta Water Restrictions 2026
Richmond County · Georgia
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Permanent Year-Round Odd/Even + Drought Advisory
3
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$150 first · $300 repeat
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd | Monday & Wednesday & Friday |
| Even | Tuesday & Thursday & Saturday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Augusta follows Georgia's permanent Water Stewardship Act year-round odd/even restrictions. With 98.13% of Georgia in drought, Augusta Utilities has issued a voluntary conservation advisory.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$150 first · $300 repeat
Augusta follows Georgia's permanent Water Stewardship Act year-round odd/even restrictions. With 98.13% of Georgia in drought, Augusta Utilities has issued a voluntary conservation advisory. Augusta draws from the Savannah River system, current river levels are adequate, but aquifer recharge is below normal. Augusta National Golf Club (Masters host) and Fort Gordon are the largest water users in the metro and are subject to the same restrictions. Monitor augustaga.gov/utilities for updates.
Citations begin April 2026🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Georgia HOAs cannot enforce lawn-appearance standards that would require homeowners to violate active municipal water ordinances or the Water Stewardship Act. Document compliance if your HOA sends a violation notice.
If your homeowners association sends a violation notice for a dormant or brown lawn during the current restriction period, respond in writing citing the applicable law and include a copy of the Augusta Utilities Department's current restriction order. Most HOAs will rescind the notice once they are made aware of the legal protections in place. If the issue persists, contact your county’s code enforcement division for assistance.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Augusta follows Georgia's permanent Water Stewardship Act year-round odd/even restrictions. With 98.13% of Georgia in drought, Augusta Utilities has issued a voluntary conservation advisory. Augusta draws from the Savannah River system, current river levels are adequate, but aquifer recharge is below normal. Augusta National Golf Club (Masters host) and Fort Gordon are the largest water users in the metro and are subject to the same restrictions.
Georgia EPD declared a statewide Drought Response Level 1 on April 27, 2026, the first formal drought declaration since 2012. No new watering restrictions at Level 1, the permanent 4 PM–10 AM watering window continues. Level 2 would trigger mandatory 2-day/week restrictions. Monitor epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/drought-management for updates.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Augusta area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Augusta Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Augusta homeowners during Permanent Year-Round Odd/Even + Drought Advisory restrictions.
Bermuda and centipede dominate Augusta lawns.
Mow at the upper end of the recommended range to shade soil and reduce evaporation.
Cycle-and-soak: split irrigation runs into 2 short cycles 30 minutes apart to prevent runoff.
Skip cycles after any 0.25 inch or greater rainfall.
Convert overhead spray to rotary nozzles, saves 30% water.
Drip-irrigate vegetable beds and fruit trees.
Replace parkway strips with Georgia-native plantings.
Fix leaks within 48 hours.
Group plants by hydrozone to match irrigation to need.
Audit your sprinkler system annually, broken heads waste 20% of usage.
Track monthly use at augustaga.gov/utilities.
Augusta Water Restriction FAQs
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