Goodyear AZ Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Goodyear, Arizona

Goodyear is operating under Stage 2 Drought Response as a member of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA). The schedule limits residential outdoor irrigation to two days per week with a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday blackout, in response to the same regional pressures squeezing every Phoenix metro city: SRP combined storage at 52 percent of capacity and Colorado River Tier 2 Shortage cutting Arizona's CAP allocation by 21 percent.

Goodyear's water-supply situation has a particular wrinkle worth understanding. Like Surprise, Goodyear is not in the SRP service area. The city does not receive Salt River Project surface water as part of its standard portfolio. Goodyear's supply comes from Colorado River water via the CAP canal plus groundwater wells in the regional aquifer, with no SRP cushion. That makes Goodyear, like Surprise, among the most Colorado-River-dependent cities in the metro — and therefore most exposed to Tier 2 cuts.

The city's name carries a layer of history that's easy to miss. Goodyear was named after the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, which established a cotton farm here in 1917 to grow long-staple cotton for use in tire cord. The land was eventually subdivided as the company's farming operations wound down, and the modern city of Goodyear grew on what had been Goodyear Tire's agricultural land. The agricultural origin is relevant: the wells, irrigation canals, and water-rights infrastructure that supported Goodyear's cotton fields a century ago are part of the foundation on which the modern municipal water system was built.

Today Goodyear is one of Arizona's fastest-growing cities, with population approaching 110,000 and significant additional growth planned in the Estrella Mountain Ranch and Palm Valley master-planned communities. The city has invested aggressively in reclaimed water infrastructure, with treated effluent serving parks, schools, and master-planned community common areas — substantially reducing potable demand for outdoor irrigation.

When can you water in Goodyear?

Hand watering with a hose and shut-off nozzle is permitted on any day, outside the daytime blackout. Drip irrigation for trees and non-turf plantings is exempt from the day-of-week schedule.

• New landscape installation: 30-day variance available through Goodyear Water Services.
• Master-planned community common areas: Estrella Mountain Ranch and Palm Valley operate on the commercial schedule with reclaimed water serving most common-area irrigation.
• Goodyear Ballpark: spring training facility for the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds, operates on a commercial schedule with reclaimed water for field irrigation.
• Reclaimed water customers: dedicated purple-pipe systems serve parks, schools, and select commercial properties.

Penalty schedule for water violations

Goodyear enforces Stage 2 through Code Compliance and the city's Water Services Department under the city's drought ordinance:

• First violation: a written warning, logged against the customer account.
• Second and subsequent violations: escalating civil fines under the city's drought ordinance.
• Persistent violators: Water Services can pursue service-restriction action under the ordinance.

Commercial properties, including stadium and entertainment-district landscape, face separate penalty schedules with higher dollar values.

To report a violation, call Goodyear Water Services at 623-882-7979 or use the city's online reporting form. Reports do not require the reporter to be identified.

Other outdoor water rules

• Watering during measurable rain: prohibited. Functioning rain sensors required.
• Excessive runoff: water sheeting onto streets or storm drains is a violation regardless of day or hour.
• Vehicle washing at home: permitted with a hand-held hose and shut-off nozzle, outside the daytime blackout.
• Pool filling: top-offs permitted; new pool fills require coordination with Water Services.
• Pressure washing: permitted only for surface preparation prior to paint, sealant, or repair.
• Decorative fountains: must recirculate water.

Where Goodyear's water comes from

Goodyear's water portfolio:

• Colorado River via the CAP canal — the dominant source, purchased through the city's CAP allocation and treated locally. This is where Goodyear feels Tier 2 Shortage most directly.
• Groundwater wells in the Phoenix Active Management Area, drawing from the regional aquifer with state-regulated pumping limits.
• Reclaimed water distributed through a dedicated purple-pipe system to parks, schools, master-planned community common areas, and select commercial properties.
• No SRP surface water. Goodyear is outside the SRP service area, so unlike east-side metro cities Goodyear has no SRP cushion when CAP allocations are cut.

The result is a portfolio that is unusually weighted toward Colorado River water by metro Phoenix standards. Mesa, Tempe, and Scottsdale can lean on SRP surface water during CAP cuts; Goodyear has no equivalent cushion. The city's response has been to maximize reclaimed-water deployment — which doesn't add new supply but does redirect existing supply away from potable irrigation — and to plan for the long-term Buckeye Waterline project.

The Buckeye Waterline is a regional infrastructure project planned to deliver additional water supplies to the western West Valley, serving Goodyear, Buckeye, Surprise, and other West Valley cities. The waterline's projected operational date is 2028 or later — it is a multi-year capital project still in design and permitting phases. When operational, it will diversify the West Valley's supply mix and reduce single-source CAP dependency. Until then, Stage 2 compliance is the city's most direct lever.

Mature established trees in older Goodyear neighborhoods — many of them planted in the 1980s and 1990s as the city grew on the former cotton-farm acreage — represent a significant long-term water investment that the city does not want to lose. Drip irrigation for trees is therefore exempt from the day-of-week schedule, allowing established root systems to be maintained even as turf irrigation is reduced.

Can your HOA fine you for a brown lawn?

Goodyear is heavily HOA-governed. Estrella Mountain Ranch, Palm Valley, and Sedella all maintain landscape standards through architectural review committees. Stage 2 has accelerated revision of those standards toward more permissive desert landscaping designs.

ARS § 33-1902 prohibits HOAs from enforcing covenants requiring landscape irrigation inconsistent with municipal or state water-conservation orders during a declared shortage. ARS § 33-1817 protects homeowner rights to install desert-adapted plants and gravel landscapes. Both apply in every Goodyear master-planned community.

Sample HOA response:

"Dear [HOA Architectural Review Committee], the City of Goodyear and AMWUA have declared Stage 2 Drought Response, limiting outdoor irrigation to two days per week. My landscape reflects compliance with that declaration and exercise of my rights under ARS § 33-1902 and § 33-1817. Please withdraw the violation. Sincerely, [Your name]"

How to manage your lawn during drought

Goodyear sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. Common turf and landscape options:

Mow on the high end. Taller grass shades the soil.

Skip summer fertilizer. Fertilizer pushes growth the limited irrigation cannot support.

Protect mature trees first. Goodyear's older neighborhoods have established trees that represent decades of water investment. Drip irrigation for trees is exempt from the day-of-week schedule — use it to protect what's already there before worrying about turf.

Mulch beds heavily. Decomposed granite or organic mulch dramatically reduces evaporation.

Brown is not dead. Bermudagrass is built for dormancy. A Goodyear Bermuda lawn that browns through August will green back up after the September monsoon.

Questions residents are asking

When will the Buckeye Waterline bring more water?

Projected operational date is 2028 or later, but no firm completion date is published. The Buckeye Waterline is a regional infrastructure project that will serve multiple West Valley cities including Goodyear, Buckeye, and Surprise. It is currently in design and permitting phases, with construction timelines dependent on funding, environmental review, and inter-utility agreements. When operational, it will diversify Goodyear's supply mix and reduce single-source Colorado River dependency. Until then, Stage 2 compliance is the most direct response to current shortage conditions.

Why is Goodyear named after a tire company?

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company established a cotton farm here in 1917 to grow long-staple cotton for use in tire cord. The Goodyear-owned agricultural operation gave the area its name, and as the cotton operation wound down, the land was subdivided and developed into the modern city. The agricultural origin shaped the water infrastructure — wells, canals, and water-rights records that originated as cotton-farm assets are part of the foundation of the municipal system today.

What days can I water in Goodyear?

Odd addresses Tuesday and Saturday. Even addresses Wednesday and Sunday. No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Why doesn't Goodyear get SRP water?

Goodyear is outside the Salt River Project service area. SRP delivers surface water from the Salt and Verde rivers to specific lands within its historic service boundary, which excludes Goodyear. The city's portfolio is consequently CAP-heavy, with groundwater and reclaimed water rounding out the supply.

Are Estrella Mountain Ranch and Palm Valley HOA-governed?

Yes. Both are master-planned communities with architectural review committees that maintain landscape standards. Stage 2 and ARS § 33-1902 / § 33-1817 protect homeowner rights to comply with the city's declaration and to install desert-adapted landscaping regardless of HOA covenants.

Is Goodyear Ballpark on the same schedule as my house?

Goodyear Ballpark uses reclaimed water for field irrigation under a registered commercial schedule. Reclaimed water is a separate supply that does not draw down the potable system, but its use is still scheduled.

How long will Stage 2 last in Goodyear?

Until SRP combined storage exceeds 60 percent and Lake Mead rises out of Tier 2 Shortage. Goodyear's direct exposure is to Lake Mead. Multiple consecutive wet winters will be required to fully restore both surface-water systems. Stage 2 will likely remain in effect through 2026 and into 2027.

What time can I water in Goodyear?

Watering is allowed Not 10am-6pm. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Goodyear?

First offense: Written warning. Repeat violations: Escalating fines per drought ordinance. Contact City of Goodyear Water Services for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Goodyear?

Current Stage 2 Drought Response — SRP + Colorado River Tier 2 restrictions are in effect through Until SRP storage exceeds 60% and Lake Mead rises above Tier 2. Monitor https://www.goodyearaz.gov/water for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Goodyear water restrictions?

Yes. Hand watering with a hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle is generally allowed on any day during permitted hours. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are also typically exempt from the day-of-week schedule. Confirm specifics with City of Goodyear Water Services.

How do I report a water waste violation in Goodyear?

Contact City of Goodyear Water Services at 623-882-7979 or visit https://www.goodyearaz.gov/water. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.