San Marcos Water Restrictions 2026
Hays County · Texas
Published:
Restrictions Active - Stage-Based Restrictions – Edwards Aquifer Critical Period
2
Days/Week
Before 10:00 AM
Allowed Hours
Civil penalties under City of San Marcos ordinance
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
City of San Marcos 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 two weeks; Stage 4 prohibits outdoor irrigation entirely. Permitted hours: before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM on the assigned address-digit day. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are permitted in the same hours.
Still Allowed
💧 Hand Watering
Allowed with shut-off nozzle. Hours: Any day with a hand-held hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle, before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM..
🌿 Drip Irrigation
Exempt from day-of-week limits. Must follow allowed hours.
Fines & Enforcement
Civil penalties under City of San Marcos ordinance
City of San Marcos enforces stage-based restrictions 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 sanmarcostx.gov.
Citations begin Active stage tied to EAA J-17 well levels🏠 HOA Rules During Restrictions
Texas Property Code §202.007 prohibits HOAs from fining homeowners for brown or dormant lawns caused by complying with mandatory water restrictions. San Marcos 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 City of San Marcos Water and Wastewater Utility'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 Marcos, the Hays County seat between Austin and San Antonio with a population of roughly 70,000 plus around 38,000 Texas State University students, operates a stage-based outdoor watering schedule tied to Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Critical Period Management based on the J-17 monitoring well. The same J-17 well drives stage rules across San Antonio Water System (SAWS), New Braunfels Utilities, and other Edwards Aquifer-permitted utilities; when J-17 falls below regulatory thresholds, all permitted utilities escalate stages in coordination.
The San Marcos River is fed by the San Marcos Springs, one of the largest spring complexes in Texas, which discharge directly from the Edwards Aquifer at Spring Lake (now Texas State University's Meadows Center for Water and the Environment). Spring flow is the visible bellwether for aquifer health: as J-17 drops, San Marcos Springs flow drops and recreation on the lower San Marcos River (tubing, diving, wildlife) is directly affected. Texas State University facilities follow the same City of San Marcos stage schedule for outdoor irrigation.
This deficit has accumulated over the current water year and represents a significant departure from historical averages for the San Marcos area. Water supply reservoirs and aquifer levels are well below seasonal targets, necessitating mandatory conservation measures.
How to Keep Your Lawn Alive During San Marcos Water Restrictions
10 tips tailored for San Marcos homeowners during Stage-Based Restrictions – Edwards Aquifer Critical Period restrictions.
Identify your address last digit and assigned weekday, San Marcos uses 5 weekday slots paired with the last digit.
Set automatic controllers to run before 10 AM or after 8 PM on your assigned day.
St. Augustine and Bermuda dominate San Marcos lawns, Bermuda goes dormant gracefully under Stage 2 reductions.
Cycle-and-soak on Hays County caliche and limestone soils: 8 minutes on, 30 minutes off, 8 minutes on to prevent runoff.
Hand watering and drip are permitted any day in morning/evening windows, prioritise mature trees over turf.
Apply 50 to 75 mm of mulch around live oaks and pecans to retain moisture between assigned days.
Tubing on the lower San Marcos River continues under Stage 2 but may be limited at Stage 3+ if spring flow drops further.
Apply for a new-sod variance through City of San Marcos before installing new lawn.
Texas Property Code §202.007 protects brown lawns from HOA fines while you follow San Marcos stage rules.
Monitor edwardsaquifer.org for J-17 well levels and sanmarcostx.gov for current stage announcements.
San Marcos Water Restriction FAQs
What days can I water my lawn in San Marcos?
What hours can I run my sprinklers in San Marcos?
What are the fines for water violations in San Marcos?
Can I install new sod or seed in San Marcos during restrictions?
When will water restrictions end in San Marcos?
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