San Antonio will enter Stage 1 water rules Wednesday, ending a four-month reprieve from restrictions, the San Antonio Water System announced in a press release. Stage 1 restrictions were last in effect in May.
Stage 1 rules, which include limited lawn-watering days and times, begin when the Edwards Aquifer’s monitoring well drops below an average of 660 feet above sea level for 10 days or more. Despite a wet summer, the hot conditions of August have pushed the aquifer’s level down, SAWS Conservation Director Karen Guz said in the release.
The city can consider lifting drought restrictions after the aquifer level stays above 660 feet for 15 days, according to the city’s Aquifer Management Plan ordinance.
In Stage 1, outdoor watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system is allowed only before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m., one day per week as determined by the last number of your street address:
- 0 or 1 – Monday
- 2 or 3 – Tuesday
- 4 or 5 – Wednesday
- 6 or 7 – Thursday
- 8 or 9 – Friday
Watering with a handheld hose is allowed at any time on watering days, starting and ending at midnight. More information on Stage 1 specifics is available at saws.org/stage1.
