What is the Water Use Management Ordinance?

To help conserve our treated drinking water, the City of Austin has adopted a water use management ordinance (Chapter 6-4 of City Code). Violations are Class C misdemeanors, with each instance punishable by a fine of $500. The ordinance is enforced, but our primary goal is to work with customers to obtain compliance, not to issue fines.

What are my watering days?

For single family homes (including duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes), watering days are determined by street address (not zipcode):

• Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and/or Saturday
• Even numbered addresses: Thursday and/or Sunday

For Commercial and Multifamily customers (including common areas of condominiums or homeowners' associations):

• Tuesday and/or Friday

Are the watering days in effect year round?

For commercial and multi-family customers, the answer is yes. For residential customers, the watering days are only mandatory from May 1st through September 30th.

When does this take effect?

The watering schedule changes take effect October 1. On that date, scheduled watering days become mandatory for commercial and multifamily properties. The watering schedule will be mandatory for single family properties next summer, starting May 1.

What time of day can I water?

If you are watering with an automatic irrigation system, you may water before 10 am or after 7 pm. This applies to all customers and is in effect year round.

If you are watering with a hose-end sprinkler, from May 1 to September 30 you may water before 10 am and after 7 pm on your designated watering days. There are no time of day restrictions for hose-end sprinklers during the rest of the year.

What about watering with a hand-held hose?

You can water with a hand-held hose or bucket any time of day and any day of the week.

If I see a neighbor in violation of the watering ordinance, what do I do?

The best thing to do is to give the City of Austin’s Water Conservation Department a call at 974-2199, email watercon *at* ci.austin.tx.us, or use our online reporting form. Please provide us with as much information as you can (address, time, date, location, type of violation).

What are the potential consequences once a report is submitted to the Water Conservation Department?

Water Conservation wants first to educate people about the proper way to water their landscapes and assist them in complying with the ordinance. Often violators are not even aware of the problem and can make corrections immediately. However, violations are a class C misdemeanor and customers who refuse to comply can be cited.

Why are we mandating watering restrictions when we have had so much rain?

The watering rules are designed to last for many years, regardless of annual weather variations. By setting a watering schedule that is easy to follow and to remember, we will be helping our customers use their water efficiently. Twice a week is more than enough to maintain healthy, green landscapes and build strong root systems that can withstand drought.

How will this save water? Twice a week offers more watering days than the old five-day schedule?

The new schedule will save water by being easier to remember and easier to follow. Water Conservation’s irrigation staff found that only 12% of the properties they audited were following the five-day schedule, and over 60% were watering more than twice a week. Getting those customers to water just twice a week will result in large savings. In addition, many customers will find that their landscapes will do well on just once a week watering, something that was difficult under the five day schedule.

Does the watering ordinance prohibit people from washing their cars or sidewalks or other hard surfaces?

The watering ordinance only restricts car washing or washing down sidewalks or other hard surfaces if increased watering restrictions become necessary. (The last time we went to Stage 2 restrictions was in the summer of 2000.) The City does recommend that you use a broom to clean your driveway or sidewalk rather than using water, and if you are washing your car, make sure you have a nozzle on the end of your hose that allows you to easily shut off the water when not being used.

I'm putting in a new landscape. Do these restrictions apply to me?

Commercial customers who are installing new landscapes may apply for a temporary variance from the watering restrictions by submitting a Notification of New Landscape form (pdf) at least one day prior to installation. Variances will not be granted for seasonal color beds or overseeding.

What if I can't water my entire property in only two days per week?

Large properties where the irrigation system is incapable of covering the property within the mandatory watering schedule may apply for a variance. You must submit a completed Variance Request Form (PDF) along with a site map and proposed watering schedule. Do not deviate from the mandatory schedule until you receive approval, typically issued within five business days.

What other situations are eligible for variances?

In very limited circumstances, we may be able to grant variances from either the watering day and/or time of day restrictions. Variance forms are available for download. Please note that variances will not be granted for overseeding lawns, conflicts with trash pickup, or lawn maintenance schedules.