Overland Park Water Restrictions 2026
Johnson County · Kansas
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage 1 Conservation Advisory – WaterOne Regional Special District
3
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
No fines at Stage 1 Advisory
Max Fine
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| Odd (voluntary) | Monday & Wednesday & Friday |
| Even (voluntary) | Tuesday & Thursday & Saturday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Overland Park is served by WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County), a regional special district rather than a city department. WaterOne currently runs a voluntary Stage 1 Conservation Advisory; recommended best practice is the odd/even Monday-Wednesday-Friday / Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule with a 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM mid-day blackout to minimize evaporation. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are exempt. Mandatory restrictions would activate only if WaterOne escalates – verify current status at waterone.org.
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
No fines at Stage 1 Advisory
Stage 1 Conservation Advisory is voluntary – there are no per-violation fines at the current advisory level. Mandatory enforcement would activate only if WaterOne's board declares Stage 2 under the district's drought management plan.
Citations begin Statewide drought conditions active🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Kansas state law does not include a statutory xeriscape right like Arizona or Nevada, but WaterOne's current advisory plus any future mandatory stage are 'applicable' under Kansas common law for HOA-supremacy purposes. Document the WaterOne advisory if your HOA sends a violation letter.
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 current restriction order from WaterOne. 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
Overland Park is served by WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County) – a regional special district, NOT a City of Overland Park department. WaterOne is one of the largest US water utilities organized as a special district rather than a city department, governed by an elected board independent of any single city government. The district serves Overland Park entirely, plus Lenexa, Mission, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Shawnee, Westwood, and portions of Olathe (where Olathe also operates its own city water utility on a partial-overlap basis).
Source water: WaterOne's primary intake is the Missouri River at the Wolcott raw-water facility near Bonner Springs, Kansas. The district also draws supplemental supply from the Kansas River, blending the two surface waters at the WaterOne treatment plant before distribution to member cities. WaterOne is structurally distinct from Wichita's Cheney Reservoir + Equus Beds Aquifer framework and from Kansas City KS BPU's separate Nearman WTP + Quindaro intake.
Statewide context: Western Kansas has been under Drought Declaration Level 2 since September 2025 (Governor-issued, 42 counties – Johnson County is NOT among the declaration counties). The Ogallala Aquifer in western Kansas has declined 50+ feet since the 1950s. WaterOne's Missouri River and Kansas River surface-water sources are not directly affected by Ogallala depletion, but the district coordinates with statewide drought planning under the Kansas Water Office (KWO).
Local context: Overland Park is Kansas's 2nd-largest city overall (after Wichita) and among the wealthiest US counties by median household income. Suburban single-family housing dominates, with high lawn-irrigation density per capita compared to the Kansas state average. The Sprint Center campus and former Sprint headquarters legacy land use are significant institutional water footprints. Distinct from Wichita's permanent 2-day/week ordinance since 2013 – Overland Park's framework is a WaterOne voluntary advisory.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Overland Park area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Overland Park Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Overland Park homeowners during Stage 1 Conservation Advisory – WaterOne Regional Special District restrictions.
WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County) sets your rules, NOT the City of Overland Park – check waterone.org for current status before assuming any specific schedule.
Kentucky Bluegrass and tall fescue dominate Overland Park lawns; both handle 3 days/week voluntary schedules when watered deeply rather than shallowly.
Cycle-and-soak on Johnson County's clay-loam soils: 8 minutes on, 30-minute pause, 8 minutes on – prevents the immediate runoff that follows continuous spray.
Mulch ornamental beds 3 inches deep with arborist wood chips; bare soil in JoCo summer heat loses 0.5+ inches of moisture per day.
Drip-irrigate trees, shrubs, and vegetable beds – exempt from any current or future day-of-week limits across all WaterOne service areas.
Audit sprinkler heads monthly for overspray onto sidewalks and driveways; even under voluntary advisory, visible waste is wasted water.
Skip scheduled cycles after 0.25 inch or greater rainfall in the prior 48 hours; Kansas rain sensors are recommended on irrigation systems installed after 2010.
Convert parkway strips to Kansas natives (Buffalo Grass, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem) – low-irrigation conversion targets aligned with WaterOne's long-term conservation strategy.
WaterOne's WaterSense smart-controller rebate covers up to $75 on certified units – apply at waterone.org before installation.
Track monthly use at waterone.org MyAccount; the WaterOne portal flags high-use months for follow-up.
Harvest rainwater off downspouts into rain barrels – Kansas law permits unlimited residential rooftop capture without permit.
Overland Park Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Overland Park?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Overland Park?
What are the fines for water violations in Overland Park?
Can I install new sod or seed in Overland Park during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Overland Park?
WaterOne sets my rules, not the City of Overland Park – why?
Multiple JoCo cities use WaterOne – are rules the same across Lenexa, Mission, Shawnee, Prairie Village?
I'm in Leawood (next door) but on WaterOne – same Overland Park rules?
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