Eugene OR Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Eugene, Oregon

Eugene is under Conservation Season Mandatory restrictions, limiting outdoor watering to 2 days per week from June 1 through September 30, 2026. These restrictions are issued and enforced by the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), Eugene's municipally owned utility serving approximately 90,000 customers across the city and surrounding areas.

EWEB automatically activates its Conservation Season framework every June 1 — this is not an emergency declaration triggered by a single event but a permanent seasonal policy built around the McKenzie River's predictable summer hydrology. As the McKenzie River flow drops through July and August, EWEB must balance residential and commercial demand against legally protected instream flows for fish and downstream water rights holders tied to the Leaburg reservoir system. The Leaburg Diversion Dam, operated by EWEB roughly 40 miles upstream of Eugene, diverts McKenzie River water into a power canal; during peak summer demand, protecting downstream flow at this diversion point requires active demand-side conservation in the city.

The 2025–2026 Cascade snowpack came in at 67% of normal, meaning less meltwater entered the McKenzie watershed through late spring and early summer than a typical year. That deficit has compressed the river's summer baseflow and added urgency to this season's Conservation Season restrictions beyond the baseline seasonal pressure.

At the state level, the Oregon Water Resources Department currently monitors drought conditions primarily in Eastern Oregon, with western Oregon — including the McKenzie watershed — rated as adequate in overall precipitation terms. However, EWEB's mandatory Conservation Season operates independently of state drought declarations and activates regardless of statewide status.

Practically speaking, a resident with an even-numbered street address cannot water their garden on a Wednesday morning — Wednesday is not an assigned day for even-address properties, and mid-morning watering between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM is prohibited for all properties throughout Conservation Season. A violation on a Wednesday at 11:00 AM would be eligible for enforcement action regardless of address type.

Your assigned watering schedule

Your assigned watering days are determined by your street address number — specifically, whether the house or building number is odd or even. An address at 847 Willamette Street (odd) waters on Monday and Thursday. An address at 1240 Alder Street (even) waters on Tuesday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday are not assigned to any residential schedule under EWEB's Conservation Season framework, giving the system a brief two-day rest window at the end of each week.

Multi-family residential properties — apartment complexes, duplexes, and condominiums — follow the same odd/even address rule applied to the primary building number on record with EWEB. Commercial accounts with dedicated irrigation meters are subject to the same day and hour restrictions unless EWEB's Water Efficiency team has issued a site-specific variance in writing. Large commercial landscapers operating across multiple properties must track each address individually; a single irrigation controller running multiple addresses on the wrong day creates separate enforceable violations per property.

Within the two allowed daily windows — before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM — EWEB strongly recommends watering in the early morning rather than the evening. The Willamette Valley's mild summer humidity combined with evening watering creates conditions favorable to fungal issues in turf and ornamentals alike. Eugene's tree canopy includes substantial populations of Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), and Douglas fir planted in residential landscapes — all of which benefit from deep, infrequent watering directed at the drip line rather than at the base, and all of which should receive priority over ornamental turf during restricted watering cycles. Drip lines and soaker hoses directed at established trees are exempt from the day and hour schedule entirely.

Fines and penalties

EWEB's enforcement model is primarily complaint-driven. Neighbors, passersby, or anyone observing a violation can submit a report through EWEB's customer service line at 541-685-7000 or via the EWEB website at eweb.org. During Conservation Season, EWEB also conducts targeted neighborhood patrols — particularly in areas that have generated prior complaints or in neighborhoods with higher-than-average irrigation demand as indicated by meter data. EWEB does not currently deploy a residential smart-meter network capable of real-time automated irrigation detection, so enforcement depends on field observation and customer reports rather than algorithmic flagging.

If you receive a written warning or a fine notice and believe it was issued in error — for instance, if your drip system was active (which is exempt) or if the address assignment was misread — you can request a review by contacting EWEB's Water Efficiency team directly at 541-685-7000. EWEB's response time on complaint-generated cases during Conservation Season is typically within one to three business days. Commercial customers disputing fines up to $500 should request a review in writing to ensure a documented record of the appeal.

Other outdoor water rules

During Conservation Season, EWEB's restrictions extend beyond lawn irrigation to several other outdoor water uses. The following rules apply from June 1 through September 30:

• Vehicle washing: Washing a car, truck, or RV at home is permitted only with a hose fitted with a self-closing shut-off nozzle. Running an open hose without a shut-off nozzle violates EWEB's waste-of-water ordinance year-round, not just during Conservation Season. Commercial car washes using recycled water are not restricted.
• Pressure washing: Pressure washing of driveways, decks, and exterior surfaces is discouraged during Conservation Season. EWEB asks residents to limit pressure washing to situations where it is required for safety or structural maintenance, and to avoid flushing water into storm drains unnecessarily.
• Pool and spa filling: Filling a new pool or spa during Conservation Season is permitted but should be timed to off-peak hours where possible. Topping off an existing pool to replace evaporation loss is not restricted by EWEB's current framework, though Eugene's mild summers produce significantly less pool evaporation than inland Oregon cities.
• Decorative fountains: Recirculating decorative fountains are permitted. Non-recirculating fountains or water features that discharge to a drain are considered waste and are prohibited under EWEB's year-round waste ordinance.
• Construction water: Dust suppression and concrete curing at construction sites require site-specific compliance with EWEB's water use agreements. Contractors should contact EWEB directly for site-use authorizations during Conservation Season.
• Restaurant and commercial use: Oregon Health Authority rules require restaurants to serve water only upon request — a year-round state regulation that reduces commercial water use throughout the summer.

Eugene's water supply and source

Eugene's drinking water comes entirely from the McKenzie River, one of the cleanest large river systems in the Pacific Northwest. EWEB draws from the McKenzie through two primary intake points: the Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant located near Springfield, which processes river water before distribution across EWEB's service area, and the secondary intake infrastructure connected to EWEB's Leaburg system upstream.

The Leaburg Diversion Dam, located approximately 40 miles east of Eugene on the McKenzie River, diverts water into a 5-mile power canal that feeds EWEB's Leaburg Hydroelectric Plant before rejoining the river. During summer, this diversion reduces the McKenzie's natural flow below the dam. EWEB is legally obligated under Oregon Water Resources Department water rights and federal fish protection agreements to maintain minimum instream flows through this reach — flows that support Chinook salmon and steelhead trout that use the McKenzie as critical spawning habitat. When summer demand from Eugene's distribution system rises while river flow drops, Conservation Season restrictions are the primary mechanism EWEB uses to keep withdrawals within its permitted water rights and to protect instream flow minimums.

The McKenzie River originates from Clear Lake, a spring-fed volcanic crater lake in the Cascades, and flows west through the McKenzie River valley before entering the Willamette River near Eugene. Unlike municipalities in eastern Oregon or the Willamette Valley's agricultural zones that draw from groundwater or surface storage reservoirs, EWEB operates without a large seasonal storage reservoir of its own — making it directly dependent on the McKenzie's real-time flow conditions. In a year like 2025–2026, when Cascade snowpack reached only 67% of normal, the McKenzie's summer baseflow drops earlier and further than in high-snowpack years, creating the compounded seasonal pressure that makes Conservation Season restrictions a firm annual requirement rather than a precautionary measure.

The Hayden Bridge facility treats McKenzie River water to meet all EPA and Oregon Drinking Water Services standards before distribution. Eugene does not supplement its supply with groundwater wells or inter-basin transfers.

HOA rules during water restrictions

Oregon does not have a specific statute equivalent to Colorado's CRS § 37-60-126 or Nevada's NRS § 116.31075 that explicitly prohibits HOAs from fining homeowners for brown lawns during declared water restrictions. However, Oregon's general HOA governance framework under ORS Chapter 94 (planned communities) and ORS Chapter 100 (condominiums) requires that HOA rules and enforcement actions be reasonable and consistent with applicable law. An HOA enforcement action for lawn appearance during EWEB's mandatory Conservation Season — a utility-imposed legal restriction — would face significant legal and practical challenges as an unreasonable rule application.

If your HOA has cited you or threatened a fine for a brown or under-irrigated lawn during EWEB's June–September Conservation Season, put your response in writing. Reference the mandatory restriction by name and the governing authority directly.

Sample response letter:

"Dear [HOA Board or Management Company]: I am writing in response to your notice dated [date] regarding the appearance of my lawn. Please be advised that outdoor irrigation in Eugene is currently governed by the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) Conservation Season Mandatory restrictions, in effect June 1 through September 30, 2026. These restrictions limit outdoor watering to two assigned days per week and prohibit irrigation between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Any lawn condition resulting from compliance with EWEB's mandatory framework cannot reasonably serve as grounds for HOA enforcement under ORS Chapter 94. I respectfully request that this citation be withdrawn. For verification, EWEB can be reached at 541-685-7000 or at eweb.org."

If your HOA proceeds despite this notice, Oregon's Community Association Dispute Resolution process through the Oregon Real Estate Agency provides a formal mediation pathway before litigation becomes necessary.

Lawn survival guide for Eugene

Eugene's climate is cool-humid Pacific Northwest — warm dry summers, mild wet winters — which supports a specific set of turf grasses that handle the Willamette Valley's seasonal moisture pattern. The following grasses are locally relevant to Eugene-area lawns:

During EWEB's Conservation Season, mowing height matters significantly. Keep tall fescue at 3.5 to 4 inches — taller grass shades the soil, reduces surface evaporation, and maintains root depth between watering days. Perennial ryegrass, the most common grass in Eugene's older residential neighborhoods, should also be kept at 3 inches or higher during July and August. Avoid mowing when the lawn is drought-stressed; mowing dormant or semi-dormant grass during the midday heat causes additional stress. EWEB recommends that new sod or lawn installations be scheduled for September or October, when fall rains return to the Willamette Valley and establishment doesn't compete with Conservation Season restrictions.

Eugene's Willamette Valley summers are drier than the region's reputation suggests — July and August average fewer than 0.5 inches of rainfall combined, meaning lawns receive virtually no natural irrigation supplement during the peak restriction period. Fine fescue blends are increasingly popular in Eugene because they tolerate going partially dormant and recovering quickly when fall rains begin, without requiring the consistent summer watering that Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass demand. For homeowners interested in reducing lawn area, EWEB's Water Efficiency program offers rebate incentives for converting irrigated turf to drought-tolerant or native plantings — contact EWEB at 541-685-7000 for current program details.

Frequently asked questions

What days can I water if my address is 1415 Oak Patch Road?

1415 is an odd number, so your assigned watering days under EWEB's Conservation Season schedule are Monday and Thursday. You may irrigate with sprinklers or in-ground systems before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM on those days only. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and drip irrigation are exempt from the day and hour restrictions and can be used any day.

Can I wash my car at home during Eugene's Conservation Season?

Yes, but only with a hose equipped with a self-closing shut-off nozzle. Letting a hose run freely while washing a vehicle is a violation of EWEB's waste-of-water ordinance and is enforceable year-round, not just during Conservation Season. If you prefer to avoid the restriction entirely, commercial car washes that recycle water are an unrestricted option.

Does EWEB use smart meters to catch Conservation Season violations?

Not for real-time automated detection of irrigation violations. EWEB does read meters electronically, but the current system is not configured to flag specific Conservation Season violations algorithmically. Enforcement is primarily complaint-driven — neighbors or passersby report what they observe — supplemented by targeted neighborhood patrols by EWEB's Water Efficiency team during the June–September restriction period.

What happens to my landscaping watering schedule on a holiday like the Fourth of July?

EWEB's Conservation Season restrictions do not pause for holidays. If the Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday, even-address properties may water before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM as usual. Odd-address properties cannot water on that Tuesday regardless of the holiday. The schedule runs continuously from June 1 through September 30 without exception days.

Can my neighbor's McKenzie River-fed irrigation ditch exempt them from EWEB restrictions?

Properties that hold valid Oregon Water Resources Department water rights for direct irrigation from the McKenzie River — typically agricultural parcels on the valley floor — operate under separate state water law and are not subject to EWEB's Conservation Season restrictions, because they are not EWEB customers drawing from the treated municipal system. Standard residential Eugene properties served by EWEB distribution have no such exemption. If you are unsure whether your property has a historical irrigation water right, check the Oregon Water Resources Department's OWRD online water rights database.

Does EWEB offer rebates for removing grass and replacing it with drought-tolerant plants?

Yes. EWEB's Water Efficiency program offers rebates for turf replacement projects that convert irrigated lawn to low-water or native plantings. Rebate amounts and program terms are updated periodically; contact EWEB's Water Efficiency team at 541-685-7000 or visit eweb.org to get current figures before starting a conversion project. EWEB also offers free water-use assessments for residential properties that want to identify where irrigation savings are possible before committing to a landscape overhaul.

My sprinkler system has a rain sensor — does that count as an exemption?

No. A rain sensor reduces unnecessary irrigation but does not exempt your system from EWEB's Conservation Season day and hour restrictions. Your in-ground sprinkler system must still operate only on your assigned days (Monday/Thursday for odd addresses, Tuesday/Friday for even addresses) and only during the allowed windows before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. The presence of water-saving technology is relevant to your water bill but not to your compliance status under EWEB's Conservation Season framework.

When does Conservation Season end, and what changes on October 1?

EWEB's Conservation Season restrictions end on September 30, 2026. Beginning October 1, the mandatory 2-days-per-week schedule and the 10:00 AM–5:00 PM blackout window lift. Fall in Eugene typically brings consistent rainfall beginning in October, and EWEB's guidance encourages homeowners who want to install new sod or overseed thin lawns to target the September–October window when soil temperatures are still warm enough for germination but irrigation needs are naturally lower. There are no off-season watering restrictions between October 1 and May 31 under EWEB's current framework, though EWEB's year-round waste-of-water prohibitions — covering open-hose runoff and non-recirculating decorative water features — remain in effect continuously.

What time can I water in Eugene?

Watering is allowed Before 10:00 AM and After 5:00 PM. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Eugene?

First offense: $75 first · $150 second. Repeat violations: EWEB's Water Efficiency team issues a written warning on first detection, then $75 for second offense and $150 for third within 12 months. Commercial properties face up to $500. Enforcement is primarily complaint-driven plus targeted neighborhood patrol during Conservation Season.. Contact Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) for the full enforcement schedule.