Last updated:
Last verified: October 6, 2026, against Austin Water (City of Austin).
Austin Water has the city under Conservation Stage watering restrictions, in place as of Sept. 2, 2025. Automatic and manual irrigation systems may run 1 assigned day per week, midnight to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight. Hose-end sprinklers and drip irrigation get 2 days per week in the same hours. A hand-held hose or refillable container may be used any day and any time. Your assigned day depends on your address: even addresses water automatic systems on Thursday and hose-end or drip on Thursday and Sunday, while odd addresses water automatic systems on Wednesday and hose-end or drip on Wednesday and Saturday. Stage 1 restrictions will be triggered when water storage in the Highland Lakes reaches 1.4 million acre-feet, so confirm the current stage before setting a timer.
Source: Austin Water / austintexas.gov, Find Your Watering Day.
| Watering method | Allowed schedule (Conservation Stage, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Automatic in-ground sprinklers | 1 assigned day per week; midnight to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight only |
| Hose-end sprinklers & drip | Up to 2 days per week |
| Hand-watering (hose or refillable container) | Any day, any time |
| Assigned day | By address (look up at austintexas.gov) |
| Current stage | Conservation Stage (as of Sept. 2, 2025) |
| Other rules | No runoff/waste onto pavement; fix broken heads |
| If drought worsens | Stage 1 restrictions are triggered when Highland Lakes storage reaches 1.4 million acre-feet |
Under Austin’s Conservation Stage, automatic sprinklers may only run before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on your one assigned day, to limit evaporation in the Central Texas heat. Hose-end sprinklers and drip have the same daytime-avoidance intent across their two days. Hand-watering with a hand-held hose or refillable container is the exception: Austin Water allows it on any day at any time.
Hand-watering vs sprinkler: what’s allowed in Austin?
Austin’s rules are set by watering method. Automatic and manual irrigation systems are the most restricted (1 day per week, midnight to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight). Hose-end sprinklers and drip irrigation get 2 days per week in the same hours. Watering with a hand-held hose or refillable container is allowed any day and any time, and so are trees on a Treegator, soaker hose or automatic tree bubbler and vegetable gardens on a soaker hose or drip. So a wilting spot can always be hand-watered legally, but the in-ground system has to stay on its assigned day.
Can you water new sod or a new lawn in Austin under the restrictions?
New sod and seed need frequent water to establish, which the normal 1-day automatic schedule does not allow. Watering with a hand-held hose or refillable container is permitted any day and any time. Austin Water says a variance from the restrictions may be granted in limited situations, case by case, and the current restrictions apply until it is approved. Variance applications go through the Austin Water Conservation Hub. Running an automatic system off-schedule without an approved variance can bring penalties of up to $1,000 per violation.
Why is Austin under watering restrictions in 2026?
Austin Water keeps permanent year-round conservation watering restrictions to protect the Highland Lakes, the source of the city’s water supply. The 2016 Drought Contingency Plan set once-per-week irrigation year-round, and as of Sept. 2, 2025 the city is under Conservation Stage. The rules are tied to reservoir storage, not the calendar.
How much should you water an Austin lawn?
Aim for about 1 inch of water per week for established warm-season turf, including rain, delivered deeply and infrequently so roots grow down – not daily light sprinklings. In peak summer heat, St. Augustine needs that full inch (or slightly more) while Bermuda and Zoysia tolerate less. Use a rain gauge or tuna can to measure, water in the early-morning window, and let the lawn tell you (footprints that stay) when it’s thirsty.
Official-source status checked August 4, 2026. Confirm the current schedule and drought stage through the named local water authority source linked on this page.