Mathis Water Restrictions 2026
San Patricio · Texas
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Stage 3 Mandatory (Non-Essential City Water Use Suspended)
0
Days/Week
Handheld hose / drip / soaker: before 10:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.
Allowed Hours
Up to $2,000 per occurrence (second and subsequent violations)
Max Fine
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 automatic lawn irrigation. Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle only. |
Allowed Watering Hours
Mathis is located on the shore of Lake Corpus Christi and is a Corpus Christi Water wholesale customer. The city follows Stage 3 mandatory restrictions: all lawn irrigation is banned. Handheld hose, drip, and soaker hoses are permitted before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for trees, shrubs, gardens, and food crops. The City of Mathis has additionally turned off non-essential water use at all city facilities and parks as part of its Stage 3 response.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle permitted before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for trees, shrubs, gardens, and food crops. Lawn turf is not exempt..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Up to $2,000 per occurrence (second and subsequent violations)
First violations receive a warning. Second and subsequent violations carry fines up to $2,000 per occurrence under the Corpus Christi Water Drought Contingency & Conservation Plan.
Citations begin Stage 3 since December 2024🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Texas Property Code §202.007 prohibits HOAs from requiring residents to maintain green lawns in violation of active city water restrictions. HOAs cannot fine residents for brown or dormant lawns during Stage 3.
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 City of Mathis Water 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
Mathis (population ~4,600) sits on the shore of Lake Corpus Christi in San Patricio County and is a Corpus Christi Water wholesale customer. Lake Corpus Christi stood at 11.2 per cent of capacity on May 11, 2026; combined storage with Choke Canyon was roughly 7.8 per cent. Much of the historic Lake Corpus Christi bed is now grass and brush, with only a small section of the original riverbed still holding water.
Stage 3 mandatory restrictions have been in effect since December 2024. The City of Mathis has additionally turned off non-essential water use at all city facilities and parks as part of the Stage 3 response. Lake Corpus Christi State Park sits within Mathis's extraterritorial jurisdiction; reduced lake levels have meaningfully cut park visitor traffic, with consequences for the tourism segment of the local economy.
Mathis is a Hispanic-majority community with an agricultural and oilfield-services economy. The city is roughly 35 miles northwest of Corpus Christi proper along US-359. A Level 1 Water Emergency declared system-wide could cap Mathis residents at 5,250 gallons per month under the proposed Corpus Christi Water framework.
Mathis Independent School District serves the broader rural area and is the largest institutional water consumer in the city.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the Mathis area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During Mathis Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for Mathis homeowners during Stage 3 Mandatory (Non-Essential City Water Use Suspended) restrictions.
Stage 3 bans all lawn irrigation in Mathis. The city has also turned off non-essential water at all parks and facilities: residents are expected to follow suit.
Handheld hose with shut-off nozzle is permitted before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for trees, shrubs, gardens, and food crops.
Allow lawn turf to go fully dormant. Bermuda and St. Augustine both survive 4-6 weeks dormant.
Install a rain barrel: captured rainwater is unrestricted at every stage and is the most reliable source given Mathis's location on the receding Lake Corpus Christi.
Mulch heavily (2-3 inches of wood chip) around trees and shrubs to retain moisture.
Visit Lake Corpus Christi State Park anyway: the park remains open but at reduced services. Tourism support helps the local economy through the drought.
Skip vehicle washing, pool filling (top-offs allowed), and decorative fountains. Stage 3 prohibits all of these.
Convert ornamental turf to South Texas natives or xeriscape.
Skip fertiliser and aeration through summer. Both accelerate lawn decline under Stage 3 conditions.
Monitor cityofmathis.com weekly. If a Level 1 Water Emergency is declared system-wide, residential customers across Corpus Christi Water wholesale cities would be capped at 5,250 gal/month.
Mathis Water Restriction FAQs
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