Albuquerque Water Restrictions 2026
Bernalillo County · New Mexico
Published:
Restrictions Active - Permanent Year-Round Water Conservation - Stage 1 Active
1
Day/Week
Before 11:00 AM
Allowed Hours
$100 first · $200 second · $500+ third
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
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| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| 0–3 | Monday |
| 4–6 | Wednesday |
| 7–9 | Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No outdoor irrigation between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM year-round. Maximum 1 inch of total water per week including rainfall. Sprinkler restrictions apply April 1 through October 31; drip and hand watering permitted year-round.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a shut-off nozzle; drip exempt year-round.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$100 first · $200 second · $500+ third
ABCWUA's Water Conservation officers patrol by zone and respond to the online Water Waste Report. First offense: $100. Second within 12 months: $200. Third+: $500. Repeat violators can have flow-restrictors installed. Albuquerque's AMI smart-meter system flags off-schedule consumption automatically.
Citations begin 2013 (permanent ordinance) · Stage 1 since 2023🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
New Mexico Statute §47-16-19 prohibits HOAs from banning xeriscape or penalizing homeowners for drought-compliant brown lawns. ABCWUA's permanent Stage 1 ordinance qualifies as the triggering condition, HOAs cannot require turf that contradicts the 1 inch/week cap.
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 Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility 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
Albuquerque sits atop the Santa Fe Group aquifer, which has declined over 150 feet since 1975 due to sustained over-pumping. The city receives only 9.5 inches of annual rainfall, among the lowest for a major US metro. ABCWUA's permanent year-round conservation ordinance (established 2013) has cut per-capita water use from 250 gallons/day to 118 gallons/day, but aquifer recharge from the Rio Grande still lags total demand. The San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Project (Colorado River basin imports) offsets roughly 45% of pumping, but those deliveries are tied to Colorado snowpack and were cut under the 2023 Tier 2 Shortage.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Albuquerque area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Albuquerque Water Restrictions
11 tips tailored for Albuquerque homeowners during Permanent Year-Round Water Conservation - Stage 1 Active restrictions.
Albuquerque's permanent 1-day/week framework means xeriscape isn't optional, it's the practical default for almost every yard.
Buffalo Grass and Blue Grama are the two best turf options for ABQ, both survive the 1 inch/week cap and go golden-dormant by August naturally.
Replace front-yard turf under the ABCWUA Xeriscape Rebate: $2/sq ft up to $3,000 per household (apply before starting conversion).
Install subsurface drip on all shrubs and trees; topical drip cracks within 2 seasons under ABQ UV.
Apply 3 inches of decomposed granite or pea gravel as mulch; wood chip decomposes too fast in ABQ's low humidity.
Harvest rainwater, New Mexico law explicitly allows residential rain barrels and passive earthworks without a permit.
Use a smart controller with the Arizona/New Mexico ET preset; ABCWUA rebates cover $100 on WaterSense-labeled units.
Fix leaks within 24 hours, ABQ's evaporation rate can waste 400+ gallons per night from a stuck valve.
Drip-irrigate vegetable beds and fruit trees (exempt from the 1-day schedule).
Take advantage of ABCWUA's free Water-Wise home audit, specialists identify waste and recommend rebate-eligible upgrades.
Monsoon July–September: skip the next scheduled irrigation cycle after any 0.5"+ rainfall, monsoon deep soak resets moisture for 10+ days.
Albuquerque Water Restriction FAQs
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When will water restrictions end in Albuquerque?
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