Peoria AZ Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Peoria, Arizona

Peoria is operating under Stage 2 Drought Response as a member of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA). The two converging drivers are the same that affect every Phoenix metro city: Salt River Project combined storage at 52 percent and the Colorado River Tier 2 Shortage cutting Arizona's CAP allocation by 21 percent.

The result is a mandatory two-day-per-week schedule with a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday blackout. Peoria has been actively enforcing through Code Compliance and the city's Water Services Department since the AMWUA-coordinated declaration earlier in 2026.

Peoria is unusual among Phoenix metro cities in that it spans two counties — Maricopa and Yavapai — making it one of the few cities in the region with jurisdictional reach into the high desert north of the Phoenix basin. The city's northern boundary climbs into the Bradshaw Mountains foothills, where elevation, soil, and groundwater conditions diverge meaningfully from the southern flatland portion of the city.

Two characteristics differentiate Peoria from neighboring AMWUA cities. First, Lake Pleasant — the major Central Arizona Project reservoir for the Phoenix region — is partially within Peoria's municipal boundaries. The lake serves as CAP's primary storage facility for the metro, and its level is a visible reminder to Peoria residents of the regional water situation. Second, Peoria's xeriscape rebate program is the strictest in the metro — it explicitly requires conversion to actual desert plants and excludes artificial turf, in contrast to neighboring Glendale which offers a separate artificial-turf rebate.

Watering schedule and allowed days

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: a 30-day variance for sod and seed establishment is available through Peoria Water Services.
• Reclaimed water customers: the Peoria Sports Complex and several large commercial properties use reclaimed water; commercial customers operate on the commercial schedule.
• Athletic fields and golf courses: separate variance pathways. The Peoria Sports Complex (spring training home of the Padres and Mariners) operates on a registered commercial schedule using reclaimed water for field irrigation.
• Northern Peoria (high-desert lots): some northern Peoria properties operate on private wells governed by separate state-level pumping rules; municipal Stage 2 restrictions apply to city-supplied water but well-served properties have additional state requirements.

What happens if you violate restrictions in Peoria?

Peoria enforces Stage 2 through Water Services and Code Compliance with a progressive penalty structure 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 for repeat or willful non-compliance.

Commercial properties face separate, higher penalty schedules reflecting volume of consumption.

To report a violation, call Peoria Water Services at 623-773-7160 or use the city's online reporting form. Reports do not require the reporter to identify themselves.

Other outdoor water rules

Stage 2 layers additional prohibitions on top of the schedule:

• Watering during measurable rain: prohibited. Functioning rain sensors are required on automatic systems.
• Excessive runoff: water sheeting onto streets, sidewalks, 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, on any day, 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, or where required for health and safety.
• Decorative fountains: must recirculate water; non-recirculating fountains must be drained and shut off.

Water source and infrastructure

Peoria has one of the more diversified water portfolios in the Phoenix metro, reflecting the city's split geography between flatland and foothills:

• Salt River Project (SRP) surface water for the southern portion of the city within SRP's service area. SRP captures and stores Salt and Verde river runoff in a chain of six reservoirs.
• Colorado River water via the CAP canal, drawn directly from Lake Pleasant — the major CAP storage reservoir partially within Peoria's municipal boundaries. Tier 2 Shortage cut Arizona's 2026 CAP allocation by 21 percent.
• Groundwater wells in the Phoenix Active Management Area, including significant well infrastructure serving northern Peoria where SRP service does not reach.
• Reclaimed water distributed to parks, the Peoria Sports Complex, golf courses, and select commercial properties, taking pressure off the potable supply.

The presence of Lake Pleasant within Peoria's boundaries gives residents a daily visual reminder of the region's water situation. When Lake Pleasant levels are low, the bathtub-ring shoreline is visible from the bluffs along Loop 303 and Lake Pleasant Road. Lake Pleasant is managed by the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which operates the CAP system; the lake stores Colorado River water delivered through the CAP canal and releases it back into the canal during high-demand periods. The lake's level is a function of CAP deliveries, evaporation, recreational drawdowns, and the Tier 2 Shortage.

The city's northern development extends into the high desert where elevation increases by several hundred feet from the southern Peoria flatland. In that zone, groundwater is the primary source — meaning the city operates a split water portfolio within a single municipality. SRP-served southern lots and groundwater-served northern lots share the same Stage 2 restrictions but have meaningfully different underlying supply situations.

Brown lawn protections in Arizona

Arizona's HOA-protection statutes apply equally in Peoria. ARS § 33-1902 prohibits HOAs from enforcing covenants requiring landscape irrigation inconsistent with municipal or state water-conservation orders during a declared shortage. Stage 2 is a declared shortage. ARS § 33-1817 protects homeowner rights to install desert-adapted plants and gravel landscapes.

Peoria has many HOA-governed master-planned communities, particularly in the city's newer northern developments along Lake Pleasant Parkway and the Vistancia/Trilogy corridor. These communities maintain landscape standards that, before Stage 2, often defaulted to traditional turf-heavy designs. Stage 2 has prompted many HOAs to update their architectural review guidelines toward more permissive xeriscape rules.

Sample HOA response if you are cited:

"Dear [HOA Architectural Review Committee], the City of Peoria and AMWUA have declared Stage 2 Drought Response. My landscape condition or design reflects compliance with that declaration and exercise of my rights under ARS § 33-1902 and § 33-1817. Please withdraw the violation. Sincerely, [Your name]"

Lawn care during restrictions

Peoria sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b in the low Sonoran desert. Common turf and landscape choices:

Peoria's xeriscape rebate program does not allow artificial turf as a qualifying conversion. The city's position is that xeriscape means actual desert vegetation — native plants, drought-adapted shrubs, accent boulders, decomposed granite — not synthetic surfaces. This is the strictest qualifying-design standard among the AMWUA cities, and reflects Peoria's emphasis on long-term ecological sustainability over short-term water savings alone.

Beyond the rebate, the practical lawn-care advice in Peoria is the same as elsewhere in the metro:

Mow on the high end. Taller grass shades the soil and reduces evaporation.

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

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

Brown is not dead. Bermudagrass is designed for dormancy. A Peoria Bermuda lawn that browns in August will recover after the September monsoon.

Common questions about Peoria water restrictions

Why can't I use artificial turf for the Peoria rebate?

Peoria's xeriscape conversion program requires conversion to actual desert plants. Artificial turf is explicitly ineligible for the rebate. The city's position is that xeriscape means living desert vegetation — native plants, drought-adapted shrubs, decomposed granite, and accent boulders — not synthetic surfaces. If you want a rebate that includes artificial turf, neighboring Glendale offers a separate artificial-turf rebate at $0.25 per square foot up to $250.

What days can I water my lawn in Peoria?

Two days per week, by address. Odd addresses water Tuesday and Saturday. Even addresses water Wednesday and Sunday. No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

How is Lake Pleasant doing?

Lake Pleasant's level is a function of CAP deliveries, evaporation, recreational use, and the Tier 2 Shortage. Levels are publicly reported by the Central Arizona Water Conservation District. As of 2026, the lake is meaningfully below historical normals, with the bathtub-ring shoreline visible from public viewing areas.

Does spring training at the Peoria Sports Complex count against the city's water restrictions?

Spring training fields use reclaimed water — treated wastewater dedicated to irrigation use. Reclaimed water is a separate supply that does not draw down the potable system, but its use is still scheduled and reported. The Sports Complex operates on a commercial schedule consistent with Stage 2.

Why does my northern Peoria neighborhood seem to use different water than my friend's house in southern Peoria?

The split is real. Southern Peoria, within SRP's service area, receives a mix of SRP surface water and CAP. Northern Peoria, outside SRP, depends primarily on groundwater wells and CAP. The Stage 2 schedule applies equally to both halves of the city, but the underlying supply mix differs.

What happens if I'm cited for a violation?

First violation is a written warning. Subsequent violations carry escalating civil fines under the city's drought ordinance. Persistent violators can face service-restriction action.

How long will Stage 2 last in Peoria?

Until SRP combined storage exceeds 60 percent and Lake Mead rises out of Tier 2 Shortage. Both conditions are likely to require multiple consecutive wet winters. Stage 2 will likely remain in effect through 2026 and into 2027.

What time can I water in Peoria?

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 Peoria?

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

When will water restrictions end in Peoria?

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.peoriaaz.gov/water for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Peoria 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 Peoria Water Services.