Augusta Water Restrictions 2026
Richmond County · Georgia
Published: April 26, 2026Updated:
Permanent Year-Round Odd/Even + Drought Advisory
We have not independently verified this city’s watering schedule. Rules change with drought stage and can be updated at short notice. Confirm your assigned watering days on the Augusta Utilities Department official page before watering. Following the wrong schedule can result in a municipal fine.
Verification needed
Check with utility
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Verification needed
Check with utility
Check Your Watering Day With Augusta
We have not verified Augusta’s current watering schedule against an official source. Watering rules are set by your city and change with drought stage.
Confirm your assigned days on Augusta’s official water page: Augusta Utilities Department.
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.
🏠 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
What days can I water my lawn in Augusta?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Augusta?
What are the fines for water violations in Augusta?
Can I install new sod or seed in Augusta during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Augusta?
Get alerts for Augusta, Georgia
We will email you when Augusta restrictions change – escalations, new stages, or lifted restrictions.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Other Georgia Cities with Water Restrictions
Community Reports & Questions
Share an update, ask a question, or report a change in your local restrictions.
No community reports yet
Be the first to share a local update, ask a question, or report a change in your area's restrictions.