Georgetown Water Restrictions 2026
Williamson County Β· Texas
Published:
Restrictions Active - Drought Stage 2 β 1 Day Per Week
1
Day/Week
Before 9:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Civil penalties under GUS ordinance, escalate for repeat offenses
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9 | Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
Georgetown Drought Stage 2 cuts outdoor irrigation to 1 day per week (down from Stage 1's 2 days) by address last digit. Watering hours: before 9:00 AM or after 7:00 PM only. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is permitted any day in the same hours. Stage 3, if triggered, would prohibit lawn watering entirely; Stage 4 would prohibit all outdoor use including foundation and tree watering. Decorative water features are prohibited under Stage 2.
Still Allowed
π§ Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a hand-held hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle, before 9:00 AM or after 7:00 PM..
πΏ Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Civil penalties under GUS ordinance, escalate for repeat offenses
GUS issues warnings on first observation, citations on subsequent violations under the Georgetown Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. Code Enforcement responds to complaints submitted at gus.georgetown.org.
Citations begin Active Stage 2 (escalated from Stage 1)π HOA Rules During Restrictions
Texas Property Code Β§202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining homeowners for brown or dormant lawns caused by complying with mandatory water restrictions. Georgetown's master-planned communities (Sun City, Wolf Ranch, Cimarron Hills) follow the same Stage 2 schedule and the same statutory protections.
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 Georgetown Utility Systems. Most HOAs will rescind the notice once they are made aware of the legal protections in place. If the issue persists, contact your countyβs code enforcement division for assistance.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Georgetown, the Williamson County seat of roughly 80,000 north of Austin, known for the historic limestone-courthouse Square, escalated to Drought Stage 2 under Georgetown Utility Systems (GUS) as Lake Georgetown and Stillhouse Hollow Lake levels fell below trigger thresholds. Georgetown's primary water source is Lake Georgetown on the North Fork San Gabriel River, a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir with conservation storage of approximately 42,500 acre-feet that is shared with Round Rock and Leander through the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA). Georgetown also draws from Stillhouse Hollow Lake via a Brazos River Authority contract for backup supply. Stage 2 cuts outdoor irrigation from Stage 1's 2 days per week down to 1 day per week, with stricter morning/evening hours. If conditions continue to deteriorate, Stage 3 (no outdoor watering) and Stage 4 (no outdoor use including foundation) become available; Georgetown last reached Stage 3 during the 2011 drought of record.
Georgetown is on Highland Lakes / Brazos basin water and is not on the Edwards Aquifer, the Comal Springs / J-17 well crisis affecting San Antonio, San Marcos, and New Braunfels does not directly drive Georgetown's stage.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Georgetown area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Georgetown Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Georgetown homeowners during Drought Stage 2 β 1 Day Per Week restrictions.
Identify your address last digit and assigned weekday, Stage 2 is one day per week, not two.
Set automatic controllers to run before 9 AM or after 7 PM only on your assigned day.
Bermuda is the most drought-tolerant warm-season turf in Georgetown, mow at 1.5 to 2 inches in summer for the deepest roots.
St. Augustine will brown noticeably under once-weekly watering, accept dormancy rather than overwater.
Cycle-and-soak on Georgetown's caliche and clay soils: 8 minutes on, 30 minutes off, 8 minutes on to prevent runoff.
Apply 50 to 75 mm of mulch around trees and ornamental beds to retain moisture between assigned days.
Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is allowed any day in the morning/evening windows, prioritise mature trees over turf.
Apply for a sod variance through GUS before installing new lawn, the establishment window cannot proceed without approval.
Decorative water features (fountains, ornamental waterfalls) are prohibited under Stage 2 unless they recirculate.
Monitor gus.georgetown.org for stage updates and Lake Georgetown level reports.
Georgetown Water Restriction FAQs
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