Corpus Christi TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Corpus Christi, Texas

Corpus Christi is under Stage 3 — Mandatory Conservation (Reservoir Crisis) restrictions, limiting outdoor watering to 2 assigned days per week with no irrigation allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Corpus Christi Water declared the Stage 3 restrictions in response to a catastrophic decline in the city's primary surface water supply. As of late April 2025, Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi — the two reservoirs that together supply the city — sit at a combined storage level of just 8.7% of capacity. That figure places Corpus Christi among the most severely water-stressed large cities in Texas.

The City Council took up an emergency Level 1 plan on April 28, 2025, but delayed a final vote. A follow-up vote is scheduled for May 5, 2025, at which point the council is expected to adopt $500 fines as a Class C misdemeanor for violations, along with a proposed monthly household cap of 5,250 gallons. Until that vote is finalized, Stage 3 restrictions and their associated enforcement framework remain in active effect under the authority of Corpus Christi Water, reachable online at cctexas.com/water.

Texas as a whole is experiencing a patchwork of severe drought conditions. San Antonio activated its first-ever Stage 3 restrictions in June 2024 due to critically low Edwards Aquifer levels, and Pflugerville is also under a Stage 3 emergency — giving Corpus Christi's situation regional context, not isolated status.

Practically speaking: no, a resident cannot water their garden on a Wednesday morning unless Wednesday is one of their two assigned watering days and they water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Sprinkler systems running mid-day or on an unassigned day are a citable violation under the current Stage 3 framework.

Watering schedule and allowed days

Under the Stage 3 schedule, Corpus Christi Water assigns watering days based on street address. Odd-numbered addresses are typically assigned one pair of days and even-numbered addresses another, though residents should confirm their specific assigned days directly with Corpus Christi Water at cctexas.com/water, as assignments may shift pending the May 5 council vote on the emergency Level 1 plan.

Multi-family residential properties and commercial accounts are subject to the same two-day-per-week restriction. Large commercial irrigation systems that are metered separately from the building's domestic supply are still subject to the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. blackout window and the assigned-day schedule. Corpus Christi Water has historically required commercial accounts managing more than one meter to designate a site contact responsible for irrigation compliance across all zones.

If you have recently installed new sod — most commonly St. Augustine or Bermudagrass, the two turf grasses most planted in Corpus Christi's hot coastal climate — you should contact Corpus Christi Water to request a temporary establishment waiver before the turf dies from the two-day limit. Under Stage 3, establishment exemptions are not automatic; they require registration. Priority hand-watering attention should go to established live oak trees (Quercus virginiana), anacua (Ehretia anacua), and Texas ebony (Ebenopsis ebano) — all South Texas natives that take years to replace and are deeply stressed at this level of drought. Drip irrigation at the root zone of mature trees is exempt from scheduling restrictions and is strongly recommended over broadcast irrigation during Stage 3.

What happens if you violate restrictions in Corpus Christi?

The $500 first-offense fine is part of the emergency ordinance package presented to the Corpus Christi City Council on April 28, 2025, and pending a final vote on May 5. Classification as a Class C misdemeanor means the citation is issued through municipal court rather than simply as a utility fee, making it a formal legal matter rather than a billing adjustment. Water shutoff for one billing cycle — the second-offense penalty — means a customer would be without service for roughly 30 days, a significant escalation designed to compel compliance during a reservoir crisis.

Corpus Christi Water enforces restrictions through a combination of field patrols by utility staff, meter data review, and a public complaint-based reporting system. Residents can report suspected violations through the city's 311 service line or via the Corpus Christi Water website. Enforcement staff have historically focused on daytime irrigation violations, which are the easiest to observe, but smart meter data showing consumption patterns inconsistent with a two-day schedule can also flag accounts for review. If you receive a notice and believe it was issued in error — for example, because you were using a drip system or hand-watering with a shut-off nozzle — you can contest the citation through Corpus Christi Municipal Court.

Other outdoor water rules

Under Stage 3, restrictions extend well beyond lawn irrigation. The following rules apply to all Corpus Christi Water customers:

• Swimming pools: Filling or refilling a residential pool is prohibited under Stage 3 except to replace normal evaporation losses (top-off only). New pool fills are not permitted. Given Corpus Christi's year-round heat and high evaporation rates, existing pools should use a cover to reduce losses and avoid triggering a meter spike that draws enforcement attention.
• Car washing: Washing vehicles at home with a hose is prohibited unless the hose is equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes that recycle water are permitted to continue operations.
• Pressure washing: Pressure washing of hard surfaces — driveways, sidewalks, building exteriors — is prohibited except when required for public health or safety reasons with prior approval from Corpus Christi Water.
• Decorative fountains: Operation of decorative water features and fountains that do not recirculate water is prohibited. Recirculating fountains may continue.
• Landscape water features: Waterfalls and ponds that rely on continuous city water to maintain levels are subject to the same fill-prohibition as pools.
• Construction and dust control: Construction site water use for dust suppression must use the minimum amount necessary; potable water for this purpose is discouraged. Contractors should contact Corpus Christi Water if reclaimed or non-potable alternatives are unavailable.
• Restaurant table water: Under Stage 3, restaurants are required to serve water only upon customer request — a common Texas drought ordinance provision that applies citywide.

Water source and infrastructure

Corpus Christi's municipal water supply depends almost entirely on two surface water reservoirs: Choke Canyon Reservoir on the Frio River in Live Oak County, and Lake Corpus Christi on the Nueces River. Together, these reservoirs have a combined capacity of roughly 938,000 acre-feet. As of late April 2025, they hold approximately 8.7% of that combined capacity — an emergency-level figure that explains why Stage 3 restrictions are in effect.

Water from both reservoirs is conveyed to the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant on the north side of Corpus Christi, which is the city's sole large-scale treatment facility. The plant has a rated capacity of approximately 120 million gallons per day, but the crisis is not about treatment capacity — it is about the raw water supply shrinking toward levels where intakes may lose suction.

The Nueces River Basin, which feeds both reservoirs, depends on rainfall from storm systems and periodic Gulf moisture events rather than mountain runoff. Extended La Niña patterns and multi-year rainfall deficits in the South Texas brush country have driven the reservoirs to crisis levels. There is no significant groundwater backup for municipal supply in the Corpus Christi system — the city does not draw from the Edwards Aquifer or the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer for municipal use at meaningful scale.

The city has explored and partially developed a desalination program using brackish groundwater from the Evangeline Aquifer via the Alfred D. Mewbourne Water Recycling Center and has investigated a Nueces Delta brackish reverse-osmosis facility, but neither provides enough volume to offset the reservoir shortfall during a crisis of this magnitude. The Coastal Bend region's water future depends heavily on completing long-discussed regional water supply projects under the Nueces River Authority, which coordinates water planning across the basin.

Brown lawn protections in Texas

Texas Property Code § 202.007 protects Corpus Christi homeowners from HOA enforcement actions related to brown or dormant lawns during a declared water shortage. Under this statute, a property owners' association may not fine, cite, or otherwise penalize a homeowner for failing to water their lawn or landscape when the property is subject to water restrictions imposed by a governmental entity — which Corpus Christi's Stage 3 restrictions clearly are. The law covers drought-induced dormancy resulting directly from compliance with the city's watering schedule.

If your HOA in a Corpus Christi subdivision — whether in Calallen, Flour Bluff, Padre Island, or any other area of the city — sends a violation notice about your brown lawn while Stage 3 restrictions are active, you are not obligated to comply with any remediation demand that would require you to violate city water rules. Document the HOA notice and respond in writing.

Use this template as your response:

"This property is currently subject to Stage 3 — Mandatory Conservation (Reservoir Crisis) restrictions imposed by Corpus Christi Water, a governmental authority. Under Texas Property Code § 202.007, this association is prohibited from fining or penalizing me for lawn dormancy or browning that results from compliance with those restrictions. I am watering on my two assigned days only, as required by the city ordinance. Please confirm in writing that this violation notice has been withdrawn."

Keep a copy of your correspondence and your watering schedule in case the dispute escalates. The Texas Property Code protection does not require you to prove the lawn is dormant rather than dead — compliance with the city's stage restrictions is the operative fact.

Lawn care during restrictions

Corpus Christi's climate — USDA Zone 9b, with summer heat indexes routinely above 105°F and a coastal humidity that raises fungal pressure even during drought — creates a brutal combination for lawns under a two-day watering limit. St. Augustinegrass, the most common turf in Corpus Christi neighborhoods, is the most vulnerable: it requires roughly an inch of water per week to stay green and will go dormant or die within two to three weeks of Stage 3 conditions at peak summer temperatures. If your lawn is already predominantly St. Augustine, prioritize deep, infrequent watering on your two allowed days — water to a 6-inch soil depth rather than a light surface spray. Mow high at 3.5 to 4 inches to shade the root zone and reduce evapotranspiration. Do not fertilize during Stage 3; fertilizer pushes new growth that demands more water.

The longer-term takeaway from the current reservoir crisis is that Bermudagrass and Buffalograss — both far more drought-tolerant in South Texas conditions — are significantly better suited to Corpus Christi's reality. Corpus Christi Water has at various times offered rebates for turf conversion to low-water-use grasses and drought-tolerant native landscaping; check the current program status at cctexas.com/water, as these programs tend to expand during declared water emergencies. Replacing high-water St. Augustine sections with Bermuda or native groundcover is one of the most effective long-term water reductions a homeowner can make in this region.

Common questions about Corpus Christi water restrictions

What days can I water my lawn at my Corpus Christi address right now?

Your watering days depend on your street address. Under the Stage 3 schedule, odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses are assigned different two-day pairs during the week. To confirm your exact assigned days, visit cctexas.com/water or check your most recent water bill from Corpus Christi Water, which should reflect your stage assignment. The May 5 council vote may finalize or modify the day-assignment structure, so verify after that date if your schedule seems unclear.

How low are Choke Canyon and Lake Corpus Christi right now?

As of late April 2025, the combined storage of Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi is approximately 8.7% of total capacity. Choke Canyon alone, which holds the larger share of the system's water, has historically triggered Stage 1 restrictions at 50% and Stage 3 well above current levels. This is not a precautionary restriction — the reservoirs are in genuine crisis territory, and the city's intake infrastructure becomes operationally threatened below certain minimum pool elevations.

What is the proposed 5,250-gallon monthly cap, and does it apply to me?

The 5,250-gallon-per-month household cap is part of the emergency Level 1 ordinance package that the City Council was scheduled to vote on May 5, 2025. If adopted, it would apply to residential accounts citywide. For context, the average Corpus Christi household currently uses significantly more than that during summer months — 5,250 gallons is roughly 175 gallons per day, covering indoor use and very limited outdoor activity. Exceeding the cap would trigger the $500 fine. Monitor the council vote outcome at cctexas.com/water for confirmation of whether the cap was adopted as proposed.

Can I wash my car at home in Corpus Christi right now?

You can wash your vehicle at home only if you use a hose with a positive shut-off nozzle — one that stops water flow when you release the grip. Free-running hose washing is prohibited under Stage 3. Commercial car washes that operate with water-recycling systems are permitted to remain open and are generally the water-efficient alternative Corpus Christi Water prefers customers to use during the current crisis.

Does Corpus Christi Water use smart meters to detect watering violations?

Corpus Christi Water has been expanding its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network, which transmits consumption data at short intervals rather than monthly. This means the utility can identify accounts showing irrigation-level water use on non-assigned days or during the prohibited 10 a.m.–6 p.m. window. Field patrols remain the primary enforcement mechanism for visible violations, but meter data can be used to flag accounts for follow-up investigation, particularly for large commercial irrigation users.

Can I fill or top off my pool on Padre Island during Stage 3?

New pool fills are prohibited under Stage 3. Topping off an existing pool to replace evaporation — which can be significant on Padre Island due to wind and heat exposure — is technically permitted at the minimum amount necessary to protect the pool structure and equipment. However, large additions to pool water are not allowed, and if your meter usage spikes noticeably above your normal baseline, it can trigger an enforcement inquiry. Using a pool cover is the most effective way to reduce evaporation and stay below thresholds that attract attention.

Will my HOA fine me for a brown lawn while Stage 3 is in effect?

No — not legally. Texas Property Code § 202.007 explicitly prohibits HOAs from penalizing homeowners for brown or dormant lawns caused by compliance with governmental water restrictions. Stage 3 restrictions imposed by Corpus Christi Water qualify as exactly that kind of governmental restriction. If your HOA sends a violation notice regardless, respond in writing citing § 202.007, identify the Stage 3 restriction as the cause of the dormancy, and demand the notice be withdrawn. The statute is on your side.

What rebates or programs does Corpus Christi Water offer to help reduce water use during Stage 3?

Corpus Christi Water has historically offered rebate programs for high-efficiency toilets, smart irrigation controllers, and landscape conversion to drought-tolerant or native South Texas plants. During declared water emergencies, these programs often receive additional funding or expedited processing. Visit cctexas.com/water for the current list of active rebate offerings. Given the severity of the reservoir situation as of spring 2025, it is worth checking whether the city has added any new incentives tied to the Stage 3 declaration, including possible rebates for turf removal and conversion to Bermudagrass, Buffalograss, or native groundcover.

What time can I water in Corpus Christi?

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 Corpus Christi?

First offense: $500 (proposed Class C misdemeanor). Repeat violations: Water shutoff for one billing cycle. Contact Corpus Christi Water for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Corpus Christi?

Current Stage 3 — Mandatory Conservation (Reservoir Crisis) restrictions are in effect through Until reservoir recovers — emergency possible by September. Monitor https://www.cctexas.com/water for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Corpus Christi 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 Corpus Christi Water.

How do I report a water waste violation in Corpus Christi?

Contact Corpus Christi Water or visit https://www.cctexas.com/water. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.