New Braunfels Water Restrictions 2026
Comal County Β· Texas
Published:
Stage-Based Restrictions β Edwards Aquifer Critical Period
We have not independently verified this cityβs watering schedule. Rules change with drought stage and can be updated at short notice. Confirm your assigned watering days on the New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) official page before watering. Following the wrong schedule can result in a municipal fine.
Verification needed
Check with utility
7:00 AM β 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Verification needed
Check with utility
Check Your Watering Day With New Braunfels
We have not verified New Braunfelsβs current watering schedule against an official source. Watering rules are set by your city and change with drought stage.
Confirm your assigned days on New Braunfelsβs official water page: New Braunfels Utilities (NBU).
Allowed Watering Hours
New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) operates a stage-based outdoor watering schedule tied to Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Critical Period Management based on the J-17 monitoring well. Baseline (no-drought) stage permits 2 days per week; Stage 2 cuts to 1 day per week; Stage 3 reduces to once every other week; Stage 4 prohibits outdoor irrigation entirely. Permitted hours within all stages: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM or 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Some adjacent Comal County addresses are served by Texas Water Company (TxWaterCo) rather than NBU and follow a separate schedule.
Still Allowed
π§ Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a hand-held hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle, in the same morning/evening windows..
πΏ Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Civil penalties under NBU Drought Contingency Plan
NBU enforces stage-based restrictions through its Drought Contingency Plan with civil penalties for off-schedule watering. Edwards Aquifer Authority Critical Period Management triggers automatic stage escalation when J-17 well levels fall below specified thresholds. Reports via nbutexas.com or 800-369-3879.
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. New Braunfels HOAs cannot require lawn watering outside the assigned EAA stage schedule.
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 New Braunfels Utilities. 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
New Braunfels, a Comal County city of roughly 110,000 in the Texas Hill Country, gateway to the Guadalupe River tubing economy, Schlitterbahn waterpark, and the Comal River, operates a stage-based outdoor watering schedule through New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) tied to Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Critical Period Management. The EAA J-17 monitoring well at the Bexar County index location is the regulatory bellwether: when J-17 levels fall below specified thresholds, automatic stage escalations apply across all EAA-permitted utilities including NBU. The Edwards Aquifer fell to historic lows twice in 2025, directly affecting Comal Springs flow that feeds the Comal River. NBU's primary water sources are the Edwards Aquifer (Comal Springs and Hueco Springs in particular) and Canyon Lake / Guadalupe River through a contract with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) via the South Central Texas Regional Water Supply Corporation (SCTRWSC). Some New Braunfels metro addresses are served by Texas Water Company (TxWaterCo) rather than NBU and follow a separate stage schedule. The same EAA J-17 well drives stage rules across NBU, San Antonio Water System (SAWS), San Marcos, and other Edwards Aquifer-permitted utilities.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the New Braunfels area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During New Braunfels Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for New Braunfels homeowners during Stage-Based Restrictions β Edwards Aquifer Critical Period restrictions.
Identify your address last digit and assigned weekday, NBU's stage schedule changes day count, not weekday assignment.
Verify whether your address is on NBU or Texas Water Company (TxWaterCo), the schedules may differ.
Set automatic controllers to run within the 7 AM to 10 AM or 7 PM to 10 PM windows on assigned days.
St. Augustine and Bermuda dominate New Braunfels lawns, Bermuda tolerates Stage 2 reductions far better than St. Augustine.
Cycle-and-soak on Hill Country caliche soils: 8 minutes on, 30 minutes off, 8 minutes on to prevent runoff.
Apply 50 to 75 mm of mulch around mature live oaks and pecans, these are the most expensive landscape assets to lose.
Tubing operations on the Comal and Guadalupe rivers continue under Stage 2 but may be limited at Stage 3+ if spring flow drops.
Apply for a new-sod variance through NBU before installing new lawn.
Texas Property Code Β§202.007 protects brown lawns from HOA fines while you follow NBU's stage schedule.
Monitor edwardsaquifer.org for J-17 well levels and nbutexas.com for current stage announcements.
New Braunfels Water Restriction FAQs
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