Toms River Water Restrictions 2026
Ocean County · New Jersey
Published:
NJDEP Statewide Drought Warning - Voluntary Conservation Since December 5, 2025
No assigned schedule
Voluntary conservation
No mandatory hour restrictions; NJDEP advises watering before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to limit evaporation
Allowed Hours
No fines
Voluntary, no penalties
Find Your Watering Day
This city assigns watering days by property location, not by address digit. Find your assigned days in the table below.
Watering schedule by property location
| Property Location | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| All addresses | No mandatory schedule; NJDEP recommends a voluntary limit of 2 days per week |
Allowed Watering Hours
The Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority has not imposed mandatory watering hours. While the NJDEP Statewide Drought Warning remains in effect, TRMUA customers are asked to voluntarily shift lawn watering to the cooler parts of the day, before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., when less water is lost to evaporation and runoff. On the Jersey Shore, sandy soils drain quickly and afternoon sea breezes and sun accelerate drying, so early-morning watering delivers the most benefit per gallon. If the Governor escalates to a Drought Emergency, TRMUA could be directed to enforce specific watering windows.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day under the voluntary Drought Warning.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
No fines under the voluntary Drought Warning
The NJDEP Statewide Drought Warning is voluntary and carries no fines. Mandatory restrictions and penalties would apply only if the Governor escalates to a Drought Emergency, the fourth and most serious NJDEP tier.
🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Many Toms River communities, including the large Holiday City and Silver Ridge Park adult developments, are governed by homeowners associations subject to the New Jersey Condominium Act, N.J.S.A. 46:8B. Because the current NJDEP Drought Warning is voluntary, an HOA may still enforce its own landscaping and irrigation rules. If a Drought Emergency is later declared, state mandatory restrictions would override conflicting HOA watering requirements. Residents should ask their association to align rules with the statewide voluntary 2-day-per-week guidance.
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 Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority. 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
New Jersey has been under a statewide NJDEP Drought Warning since December 5, 2025, the third of four tiers in the state framework of Normal, Watch, Warning, and Emergency. The warning is voluntary: NJDEP asks all residents and businesses to limit lawn watering to no more than two days per week and to cut indoor use. State Geologist Steven Domber described a chronic water supply drought, the scale of which the state has not seen in more than twenty years, and NJDEP Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak, under the administration of Governor Mikie Sherrill, has urged continued voluntary conservation. New Jersey saw below-normal precipitation in 20 of the last 24 months and recorded its driest 365-day period in two decades. The drought area expanded in May 2026, and mandatory restrictions could follow if conditions do not improve. Only the Governor can escalate to a Drought Emergency, which carries enforceable rules and fines.
In Toms River, water service is provided by the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority (TRMUA), a public municipal authority rather than an investor-owned company. TRMUA draws its supply from local groundwater wells tapping the coastal aquifer system that underlies Ocean County. Because the system depends on groundwater rather than reservoirs, the area is especially sensitive to the hydrological side of drought: when rainfall stays below normal for many months, recharge slows and well levels and aquifer storage decline gradually rather than recovering after a single storm.
Toms River sits within the NJDEP Coastal North drought region, one of the areas NJDEP has flagged for low groundwater and stressed water supplies. The township is part of the Barnegat Bay watershed, where conserving water at the tap also reduces stress on the sensitive bay ecosystem and its tributaries. As Ocean County's largest municipality, with a population near 95,438, Toms River carries the heaviest residential water demand in the county.
Demand here is also strongly seasonal. Toms River and the surrounding Jersey Shore are summer tourist destinations, and water use climbs sharply from June through August as seasonal residents, visitors, irrigation systems, and outdoor activity all peak at once. That summer surge lands at the same time of year when heat and sandy soils drive up lawn watering, so voluntary conservation during the warm months is where TRMUA customers can make the biggest difference for the local aquifer.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Toms River area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are below seasonal targets, prompting regional voluntary conservation guidance.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Toms River Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Toms River homeowners during NJDEP Statewide Drought Warning - Voluntary Conservation Since December 5, 2025 restrictions.
Water lawns no more than two days per week, following the voluntary NJDEP Drought Warning guidance for all New Jersey residents.
Water before 10 a.m. on the Jersey Shore, when sea breezes and afternoon sun are weakest, so less moisture evaporates from sandy coastal soil.
Remember that Toms River tap water comes from local groundwater wells, so every gallon saved directly slows the drawdown of the coastal aquifer.
Mow at three to four inches; taller grass shades the fast-draining sandy soil typical of the Shore and reduces watering needs.
Top-dress lawns and beds with compost or organic mulch to help moisture-poor sandy soil hold water between rains.
Install a rain sensor or smart controller on in-ground irrigation systems so they skip cycles after coastal storms.
Check irrigation systems and outdoor spigots for leaks before summer, when seasonal demand across Ocean County peaks.
Consider drought-tolerant fescue blends or native coastal plantings that thrive in sandy soil with less irrigation.
Use a shut-off nozzle when hand watering and direct water to roots, not pavement, to avoid runoff toward storm drains and Barnegat Bay.
Capture roof runoff in rain barrels to water gardens, reducing reliance on well-sourced municipal supply.
If you own a seasonal or summer rental property, share the voluntary 2-day watering guidance with tenants so peak-season demand stays in check.
Toms River Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in Toms River?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in Toms River?
What are the fines for water violations in Toms River?
Can I install new sod or seed in Toms River during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in Toms River?
Are water restrictions in Toms River mandatory right now?
Where does Toms River get its drinking water?
Why does water demand spike in Toms River during the summer?
How does saving water help Barnegat Bay?
Who do I contact at TRMUA about water service or conservation?
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