SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio residents will soon see fewer watering restrictions as the San Antonio Water System moves out of Stage 3 drought rules.
SAWS announced that Stage 2 watering rules will take effect Tuesday after recent rainfall pushed the Edwards Aquifer’s 10-day average above the Stage 3 trigger level of 640 feet above mean sea level.
The change ends Stage 3 restrictions that had been in place since June 2024 and also eliminates Stage 3 drought surcharges for single-family households using more than 20,000 gallons of water per month.
Stage 3 drought rules, combined with our diversified water resources, have helped us to weather this historic drought,” SAWS Conservation Director Martha Wright said in a statement. “Even under Stage 3, customers were able to water once a week, keeping their landscapes alive, while our community’s efforts protected our critical water supplies.
Under Stage 2, residents can continue watering with irrigation systems, sprinklers or soaker hoses once a week between 5 and 10 a.m. or 9 p.m. and midnight on their designated watering day based on the last digit of their address:
0 or 1: Monday2 or 3: Tuesday4 or 5: Wednesday6 or 7: Thursday8 or 9: Friday
Watering with a hand-held hose remains allowed at any time on any day.
SAWS encourages customers to continue using water wisely as drought conditions can quickly return despite recent rainfall.