Last updated:
Last verified: October 6, 2026, against San Antonio Water System (SAWS).
San Antonio watering rules right now
San Antonio is in SAWS Stage 3. SAWS announced the return to Stage 3 on September 21, 2026, after a brief reprieve. Sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses run once a week on your assigned day, from 5–10 a.m. and 9 p.m.–midnight. Your day is the last digit of your street address. A hand-held hose is allowed any time, any day.
Assigned day, by the last digit of your street address:
| Last digit of address | Your watering day |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9 | Friday |
| No street address (medians, entryways) | Wednesday |
| Any address | No watering on weekends |
Stage read from the San Antonio Water System on 6 October 2026: Stage 3 Rules in Effect (SAWS homepage), announced 21 September 2026.
How did San Antonio get back to Stage 3?
On 21 September 2026 SAWS announced the return to Stage 3. Under city ordinance, Stage 3 is triggered when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level falls below 640 feet mean sea level at the monitored well. The number that counts is that rolling average, not a single day’s reading.
It had been moving the wrong way. SAWS ended Stage 3 effective 4 August 2026 and Stage 2 took effect, but SAWS describes that stretch as a “brief reprieve”, and by 21 September customers were under Stage 3 again. The aquifer readings this page quoted in August (644.4 feet on 31 August, a 10-day average of 642.8 feet on 2 September) are superseded by that announcement.
Here is the part that surprises people. 2026 has been a wet year in San Antonio. As of 31 August 2026, SAWS put rainfall to date at 26.46 inches against a normal of 21.44, a departure of +5.02 inches. Rain above normal and the aquifer still fell back to the Stage 3 trigger. Rainfall alone does not lift this aquifer out of restriction, which is why planning a landscape around “it will rain and the rules will lift” is planning around the wrong variable.
Getting out is slower than getting in. SAWS says coming out of a drought stage can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger. For Stage 3 that means the 10-day average has to rise back above 640 feet and stay there for 15 days before SAWS can consider stepping down to Stage 2.
What breaking the rules costs, in dollars
This is the section most San Antonio watering pages get wrong, because the enforcement changed. SAWS no longer issues municipal court citations. A water waste non-compliance charge appears on the bill instead, which means the rules now reach every SAWS customer rather than only those inside the city limits.
| Charge | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| First non-compliance charge, single family or small commercial | $137 | Waivable by completing a one-hour online course |
| Subsequent charges | Higher | Escalate to discourage repeat violations; higher again for high-use commercial irrigation accounts |
| Stage 3 drought surcharge, single family | $10.37 per 1,000 gallons | Applies to use above 20,000 gallons a month, aimed at the top 5% of users |
| Stage 4 drought surcharge threshold | Drops to 12,000 gallons | Twice-a-month watering may still be initiated in Stage 4 |
A violation still has to be witnessed and documented in person by SAWS-trained staff. On request you can review the evidence and appeal the decision to a Board-appointed committee of people who do not work for SAWS.
Now put the surcharge next to a real number. SAWS states that the average irrigation system uses 2,000 gallons every time it runs. Four runs a month is 8,000 gallons of irrigation on top of household use, which is how a household reaches the 20,000-gallon Stage 3 surcharge threshold without doing anything unusual. In Stage 4 that threshold is 12,000.
Twelve SAWS rules in force under Stage 3
- Sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses: once a week, on your assigned day, 5–10 a.m. and 9 p.m.–midnight. Soaker hoses count as irrigation, not as hand watering.
- Drip irrigation and tree bubbler zones run Monday and Friday only, and only inside those same two windows. Stage 1 allows three days; Stage 2 and Stage 3 cut it to two.
- A hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day. That is the legal way to keep new plantings alive between assigned days.
- No watering on weekends for irrigation systems, whatever your address digit.
- Residential car washing is allowed once a week, on Saturday or Sunday, provided there is no water waste. SAWS-certified commercial car wash facilities may be used any day, and charity car washes are allowed only at commercial facilities.
- Washing impervious cover is prohibited — parking lots, driveways, streets, sidewalks. Health and safety exceptions have to be requested from SAWS.
- Residential fountains and indoor commercial fountains may run at any drought stage. Outdoor commercial fountains need a SAWS variance to operate in Stages 1 through 4.
- Golf courses, athletic fields and parks may not irrigate between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and their operators must file a conservation plan with SAWS on 210-704-SAVE.
- Recycled or treated wastewater may be used any day during the restricted hours, without waste, if the customer has posted SAWS-approved signage.
- Hotels and motels must offer, and clearly notify guests of, a linen and towel change on request only.
- Water waste is prohibited at all times, in every stage. That explicitly includes overspray and runoff from lawn watering, which is the most common way a compliant schedule still earns a charge.
- Restaurants may serve water only on request. This is a year-round rule, not a Stage 3 rule.
- Failing to repair a controllable leak is water waste in its own right, alongside letting water run off into a gutter, ditch or drain. That obligation sits in the year-round rules and does not lift when a drought stage does.
One detail worth carrying: under the year-round rules that apply when no stage is declared, drip irrigation is confined to the same midnight to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight windows as sprinklers. Drip only becomes a genuinely wider allowance in Stage 1, at three days a week, before narrowing to Monday and Friday in Stage 2. And the use of treated wastewater or recycled water is a defense to prosecution under the year-round rules.
The stage itself is declared by the City Manager in consultation with SAWS, once the rolling 10-day average drops to the trigger. It is a city decision informed by the utility, not an automatic switch, which is why the aquifer can sit near a trigger for a period without the stage changing.
The four stages and what triggers each
| Stage | Trigger, 10-day rolling average | Irrigation frequency | Hours | Drip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Above 660 ft | Any day | Midnight–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | Any day |
| Stage 1 | 660 ft | Once a week | Midnight–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| Stage 2 | 650 ft | Once a week | 5–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | Mon, Fri |
| Stage 3 (in force) | 640 ft | Once a week | 5–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | Mon, Fri |
| Stage 4 | City Manager’s discretion | Once every other week | 5–10 a.m. or 9 p.m.–midnight | Friday only |
Notice what the table shows and a stage number does not. Stage 2 and Stage 3 carry the identical watering schedule — same once-a-week frequency, same hours, same Monday and Friday drip. SAWS says so itself: Stage 3 watering hours are the same as Stage 2. What changes at Stage 3 is the money: the $10.37 per thousand gallons surcharge above 20,000 gallons a month now applies. A controller programmed correctly for Stage 2 did not need reprogramming when Stage 3 returned. The bill did change.
Frequently asked questions
What stage is San Antonio in right now? Stage 3. SAWS announced the return to Stage 3 on 21 September 2026, and its homepage on 6 October 2026 reads “Stage 3 Rules in Effect”. Stage 3 applies when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer falls below the 640-foot trigger.
What day can I water my lawn in San Antonio? The last digit of your street address sets it: 0 or 1 Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, 8 or 9 Friday. Locations without a street address, such as medians and neighbourhood entryways, water on Wednesday. There is no weekend irrigation.
What are the SAWS Stage 3 watering hours? 5 to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, on your one assigned day, for sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses. SAWS says Stage 3 hours are the same as Stage 2. Drip and tree bubbler zones use the same hours but are limited to Monday and Friday.
Can I hand water on a day that is not my watering day? Yes. Under Stage 3 watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day. A soaker hose does not count as hand watering and stays on the once-a-week schedule.
What is the fine for breaking San Antonio watering rules? SAWS no longer issues municipal court citations. A water waste non-compliance charge appears on the bill instead, starting at $137 for a single family or small commercial site, and that first charge can be waived by completing a one-hour online course. Subsequent charges are higher.
Is there a drought surcharge on San Antonio water bills? Yes, in Stage 3. A surcharge of $10.37 per thousand gallons applies to single family use above 20,000 gallons a month. In Stage 4 that threshold drops to 12,000 gallons. Commercial irrigation surcharge rates vary by use and meter size.
When will San Antonio come out of Stage 3? Coming out of a drought stage can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger. Stage 3 begins when the 10-day average falls below 640 feet, so the average has to rise back above 640 feet and hold there for 15 days before SAWS can consider stepping down.
Can I wash my car at home during San Antonio drought restrictions? Once a week, on Saturday or Sunday, as long as there is no water waste. SAWS-certified commercial car wash facilities may be used any day, and charity car washes are allowed only at commercial facilities.
Do the SAWS rules apply outside San Antonio city limits? Yes. Because enforcement moved from municipal court citations to a non-compliance charge on the bill, the rules apply to all SAWS customers, not only those inside the city limits.
How much water does one irrigation run use? SAWS puts the average irrigation system at 2,000 gallons each time it runs. That is the figure to multiply when working out whether a household will cross the 20,000-gallon Stage 3 surcharge threshold.
Related San Antonio Lawn Resources
San Antonio Watering Rules: Data
Current rules as observed, with every change we have recorded since tracking began. Source of record: San Antonio Water System (SAWS).
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Monday |
| 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| 8 or 9 | Friday |
| No street address (medians, entryways) | Wednesday |
| Any address | No watering on weekends |
| First non-compliance charge, single family or small commercial | Your watering day: $137; Waivable by completing a one-hour online course |
| Subsequent charges | Your watering day: Higher; Escalate to discourage repeat violations; higher again for high-use commercial irrigation accounts |
| Stage 3 drought surcharge, single family | Your watering day: $10.37 per 1,000 gallons; Applies to use above 20,000 gallons a month, aimed at the top 5% of users |
| Stage 4 drought surcharge threshold | Your watering day: Drops to 12,000 gallons; Twice-a-month watering may still be initiated in Stage 4 |
| Year-round | Your watering day: Above 660 ft; Any day; Midnight–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight; Any day |
| Stage 1 | Your watering day: 660 ft; Once a week; Midnight–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight; Mon, Wed, Fri |
| Stage 2 | Your watering day: 650 ft; Once a week; 5–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight; Mon, Fri |
| Stage 3 (in force) | Your watering day: 640 ft; Once a week; 5–10 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight; Mon, Fri |
| Stage 4 | Your watering day: City Manager's discretion; Once every other week; 5–10 a.m. or 9 p.m.–midnight; Friday only |
Change log
| First observed | Status | Rules recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 | current | 0 or 1: Monday; 2 or 3: Tuesday; 4 or 5: Wednesday |
| 2026-08-31 | superseded 2026-10-07 | 0 or 1: Monday; 2 or 3: Tuesday; 4 or 5: Wednesday |
| 2026-08-27 | superseded 2026-08-31 | Current stage: Stage 2 (Edwards Aquifer index well 648.4 ft on 6 August 2026, above the 640-ft Stage 3 tr; Irrigation frequency: Once per week, on your designated day; Designated day: Assigned by the last digit of your street address (look up at saws.org) |
Last checked: 2026-10-07. A new row is added only when the observed rules change, so this log records what changed and when we saw it.
Cite this: “San Antonio Watering Rules: Data,” updated 2026-10-07, https://sanantonioprolandscape.com/san-antonio-watering-restrictions/#watering-rules-dataset
What days can you water under SAWS rules in San Antonio?
San Antonio is under SAWS Stage 3. Sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses may run once a week, on the day assigned by the last digit of your street address, from 5-10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight. Hand-held hoses are allowed any time. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers to this schedule.
What time of day may a sprinkler legally run?
Under the year-round SAWS rules that apply when no drought stage is declared, sprinklers and drip irrigation may run only from midnight to 10 a.m. and from 9 p.m. to midnight. Overspray and runoff count as water waste in every stage. San Antonio Pro Landscape times San Antonio controllers to those windows.
Are hand-held hoses restricted under SAWS Stage 3 rules?
No. A hand-held hose may be used any time, any day, even under Stage 3. The once-a-week limits apply to sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses, which run only on the assigned day from 5 to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight. San Antonio Pro Landscape schedules San Antonio work around those windows.
How is a home’s assigned watering day determined?
The assigned day comes from the last digit of a property’s street address, looked up at saws.org. Under SAWS Stage 3, sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses run once a week on that day, from 5-10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers in San Antonio to that schedule.
Which activities besides sprinklers face SAWS restrictions?
Several. Residential car washing is limited to once a week, on Saturday or Sunday. Washing driveways, sidewalks, streets and parking lots is prohibited. Outdoor commercial fountains need a SAWS variance. Golf courses, athletic fields and parks cannot irrigate between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. San Antonio Pro Landscape plans San Antonio yard work around every one of these.
Which day do even-numbered addresses water in San Antonio?
Even-numbered addresses do not share one watering day under SAWS Stage 3. The day follows the last digit of the street address: 0 waters Monday, 2 waters Tuesday and 4 waters Wednesday, once a week. Other digits can be looked up at saws.org. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers across San Antonio to this schedule.
Which watering day applies to street addresses ending in 0, 2 or 4?
Addresses ending in 0 water on Monday, those ending in 2 water on Tuesday, and those ending in 4 water on Wednesday, once a week under Stage 3. Other even endings can be looked up at saws.org. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers across San Antonio to match each home’s assigned day.
Which watering day applies to even-numbered addresses in San Antonio?
Even-numbered addresses do not share a watering day under SAWS Stage 3. The day follows the last digit of the street address: addresses ending in 0 water on Monday, 2 on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday, once a week. Other digits can be checked at saws.org. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers across San Antonio to this schedule.
Which day do even-numbered addresses water under SAWS Stage 3?
Even-numbered addresses do not share a single watering day. Under SAWS Stage 3, the day follows the last digit of the street address: 0 falls on Monday, 2 on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday, once a week. Other digits can be checked at saws.org. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers across San Antonio to this schedule.
Which days can even-numbered addresses water in San Antonio?
Even-numbered addresses do not share one watering day under SAWS Stage 3. The day is set by the last digit of the street address: addresses ending in 0 water on Monday, 2 on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday. Other final digits can be checked at saws.org. San Antonio Pro Landscape programs irrigation controllers across San Antonio to this schedule.
Do current SAWS water restrictions apply outside San Antonio city limits?
Yes. The current restrictions apply to all SAWS customers, not only those inside the city limits. Enforcement moved from municipal court citations to a non-compliance charge on the bill, which is why the rules reach beyond the city boundary. San Antonio Pro Landscape plans irrigation work in San Antonio around these SAWS rules.
Can a lawn watered on the right schedule still earn a SAWS charge?
Yes. Water waste is prohibited at all times, in every stage, and that includes overspray and runoff from lawn watering, the most common way a compliant schedule still earns a charge. Failing to repair a controllable leak also counts as water waste. San Antonio Pro Landscape keeps these year-round rules in view on San Antonio lawn work.
Do watering hours change in Stage 3?
No. SAWS says Stage 3 watering hours are the same as Stage 2: 5 to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, once a week on your assigned day. What changes in Stage 3 is a surcharge of $10.37 per thousand gallons above 20,000 gallons a month for single family customers. San Antonio Pro Landscape sets irrigation controllers across San Antonio to run inside those permitted hours.