San Antonio Water Restrictions 2026
Bexar · Texas
Published: Updated:
Restrictions Active - Stage 3 Drought Restrictions - SAWS
1
Day/Week
5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Allowed Hours
$137 first offense
Max Fine
Find Your Watering Day
Enter the last digit of your street address:
View full address schedule table
| Address Ending | Watering Day |
|---|---|
| ends in 0 or 1 | Monday |
| ends in 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| ends in 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| ends in 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| ends in 8 or 9 | Friday |
Allowed Watering Hours
No watering on weekends with irrigation systems. Watering days begin and end at midnight, no overnight watering.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any time, any day, no restrictions on hand-held hose.
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
$137 first offense
Non-compliance charge added directly to SAWS water bill. $137 for single family first offense, waivable by completing a free one-hour online course. Repeat violations carry higher charges.
Citations begin June 2024 (ongoing)🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
All SAWS customers must follow Stage 3 rules, including those outside San Antonio city limits.
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 Local'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
San Antonio Water System (SAWS) entered Stage 3 drought restrictions for the first time in its 30-year history in June 2024 and remains in Stage 3 as of April 2026. The Edwards Aquifer J-17 index well sits at 625.9 feet, well below the 640-foot Stage 3 trigger. Back-to-back years of record heat and scarce rainfall have kept the aquifer critically low.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the San Antonio area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During San Antonio Water Restrictions
8 tips tailored for San Antonio homeowners during Stage 3 Drought Restrictions - SAWS restrictions.
Water deeply on your one assigned weekday, 1 inch penetrating 6 inches deep is the target
Set timer for 5am on your watering day, lowest evaporation, coolest temperature
Hand-water with a hose any time, any day, SAWS explicitly allows this with no restrictions
St. Augustine grass (most common SA lawn) can survive 12–21 days without irrigation
Book a free SAWS irrigation consultation (210-704-SAVE) to check for broken heads and overspray
SAWS pays up to $500 in WaterSaver coupons to replace lawn with drought-tolerant plants
Cycle-and-soak on allowed days: 10 min per zone, 30-min break, repeat to prevent runoff on clay soils
Stage 3 surcharge applies to usage over 20,000 gallons/month, $10.37/1,000 gal overage
San Antonio Water Restriction FAQs
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