Georgetown TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Georgetown, Texas

Georgetown is under Standard Restrictions, limiting outdoor irrigation to 2 days per week based on your address — a year-round mandatory schedule enforced by Georgetown Utility Systems (GUS).

Unlike many Texas cities that cycle through drought stages reactively, Georgetown's two-day watering schedule is a permanent, baseline rule — not a temporary emergency response. Georgetown Utility Systems established this structure to manage long-term demand growth in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, where population pressure on water infrastructure is constant regardless of rainfall conditions.

Texas is experiencing a mixed but serious drought picture statewide. San Antonio entered Stage 3 restrictions in June 2024 — the first in SAWS's 30-year history — as the Edwards Aquifer reached critically low levels. Georgetown, which draws primarily from Lake Georgetown and the North Fork of the San Gabriel River rather than the Edwards Aquifer, operates its own supply system but still faces regional demand and climate pressure.

In practical terms: if your address falls on a Tuesday/Friday schedule, you cannot legally run your sprinkler system on a Wednesday morning. A Wednesday morning session would be a violation subject to warning and then escalating fines. You may, however, hand-water with a shut-off nozzle on any day. Drip irrigation systems are also exempt from the day restrictions. Knowing your assigned days — which are tied to your address — is the single most important thing you need to check before running your irrigation system.

Georgetown's watering days and hours

Rule	Details
Days per week	2
Day assignment	2 assigned days/week by address
Allowed hours	Before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
Hand watering	Exempt (shut-off nozzle required)
Drip irrigation	Exempt
New sod/seed	Usually 30-day establishment window — register with Georgetown Utility Systems

Georgetown Utility Systems assigns your two watering days based on your street address. Even-numbered addresses and odd-numbered addresses are assigned to different day groupings, though GUS may further divide the schedule by street or zone. To confirm your exact assigned days, look up your address on the GUS website at gus.georgetown.org or review your utility bill, which sometimes includes your watering group designation.

The prohibited midday window — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. — applies on your permitted watering days. This restriction exists specifically to reduce evaporation loss during peak heat hours in Central Texas, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. Watering before 9 a.m. is the most efficient approach; soil absorption is higher and wind speeds are typically lower in the early morning hours in Williamson County.

Multi-family residential properties and commercial accounts are also bound by the two-day schedule and must comply with the same assigned-day structure. Commercial irrigation accounts with dedicated meters fall under GUS jurisdiction. If you manage a commercial property and are unsure of your assigned days, GUS customer service can confirm your account's watering schedule designation.

Georgetown's urban tree canopy includes live oaks, cedar elms, and Texas redbuds — all species that benefit from deep, infrequent watering rather than frequent shallow sprinkler runs. Under the two-day schedule, directing supplemental water toward the root zones of these trees on your assigned days is more beneficial than spending that water on turf. Established live oaks in particular can tolerate restriction schedules well once rooted but may need targeted hand-watering at the drip line during extended dry spells, which is permitted on any day.

Violation fines and enforcement

Offense	Penalty
First violation	Written warning
Second violation	Monetary fine
Repeat violations	Escalating fines per GUS enforcement schedule

Georgetown Utility Systems begins enforcement with a written warning on the first observed violation, giving residents an opportunity to correct the behavior before financial penalties begin. After the first warning, subsequent violations result in fines assessed by GUS. The city has not publicly posted a fixed dollar amount per violation in a single consolidated schedule, so contact GUS directly at gus.georgetown.org to confirm current fine amounts, as these can be updated by ordinance revision.

Enforcement is conducted through a combination of field patrols by GUS staff and neighbor complaints submitted through the GUS website or city channels. Georgetown has invested in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart meters across much of its service area, which allows GUS to identify unusual usage patterns — such as high-volume consumption outside of permitted hours — flagging accounts for follow-up. Residents who believe a fine was issued in error can contact GUS customer service to dispute the citation and request a review before payment is due.

Other outdoor water rules

Georgetown's restrictions extend beyond lawn irrigation. The following rules apply under the Standard Restrictions schedule:

• Car washing: Allowed only on your two assigned watering days, and only with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes that recirculate water are exempt.
• Pool filling and refilling: Permitted but should be done on assigned days where possible; topping off due to evaporation is generally not restricted. Central Texas heat means pool evaporation rates can exceed an inch per week in summer.
• Pressure washing: Allowed for health and safety purposes (such as removing mold or preparing a surface for paint). Purely aesthetic pressure washing of driveways should be done on assigned days.
• Fountains and water features: Decorative fountains that do not recirculate water are prohibited. Recirculating fountains are allowed.
• Landscape watering by hand or drip: Exempt from day and time restrictions, provided a shut-off nozzle or drip system is used.
• Construction water use: Contractors operating within Georgetown's city limits must comply with GUS rules. Dust suppression and concrete curing uses may require coordination with GUS for larger projects.
• Restaurant table water: Under Standard Restrictions, Georgetown does not mandate a no-serve-unless-requested rule, though many local restaurants follow voluntary conservation practices.

How Georgetown gets its water

Georgetown's water supply comes primarily from Lake Georgetown, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the North Fork of the San Gabriel River in Williamson County. Lake Georgetown has a storage capacity of approximately 44,700 acre-feet and is the primary raw water source that Georgetown Utility Systems treats at the Georgetown Surface Water Treatment Plant before delivery to customers.

Georgetown also holds water rights in the South Fork of the San Gabriel River and has interlocal agreements and backup access to groundwater sources to supplement supply during low reservoir conditions. The city participates in regional water planning through the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group and the Texas Water Development Board's Region K planning process, which addresses long-range supply needs for the rapidly expanding Williamson County corridor.

Unlike San Antonio and surrounding areas of South Central Texas, Georgetown does not rely on the Edwards Aquifer as a primary supply, which gives the city somewhat more insulation from the Edwards-specific drought crises that have driven emergency restrictions further south. However, the San Gabriel River watershed is subject to the same Central Texas weather patterns, including prolonged La Niña drought cycles that can reduce inflows into Lake Georgetown significantly.

During low-inflow periods, lake levels drop and GUS must manage withdrawals carefully against contracted storage rights. Georgetown's long-term water plan, filed with the Texas Water Development Board, accounts for projected population growth and includes infrastructure investments to ensure supply reliability — but those projections make the current year-round two-day restriction a foundational conservation tool, not a temporary inconvenience.

HOA and brown lawn protections

Texas Property Code § 202.007 protects Georgetown homeowners from HOA enforcement actions related to lawn appearance during a declared water shortage or when the homeowner is complying with government-mandated water restrictions. Under this statute, a property owners' association may not fine or penalize a member for having a brown or dormant lawn if that condition results from compliance with GUS watering restrictions or a municipal drought emergency declaration.

This protection applies to all HOAs operating under Texas Property Code Chapter 202 within Georgetown's city limits, including communities in the Wolf Ranch, Morningstar, Oaks at San Gabriel, and Berry Creek areas. The HOA cannot override a mandatory GUS restriction by demanding you water more frequently than your assigned two days per week.

If your HOA sends a violation notice related to lawn appearance during a period when you are complying with Georgetown Utility Systems Standard Restrictions, you may respond in writing. Below is a template you can adapt:

"Dear [HOA Board/Management Company]: I am writing in response to your notice dated [date] regarding the condition of my lawn at [address]. Under Texas Property Code § 202.007, a property owners' association may not take action against a member for failing to water vegetation if that member is complying with mandatory water restrictions imposed by a governmental entity. Georgetown Utility Systems currently enforces a mandatory Standard Restrictions schedule limiting outdoor irrigation to two assigned days per week. My lawn condition is a direct result of compliance with this mandatory schedule. Please consider this letter formal notice that I am exercising my rights under § 202.007. I request that this violation notice be withdrawn. I am happy to provide documentation of the current GUS restriction schedule upon request."

Keeping your lawn alive on restricted water

Georgetown sits in the warm-season transition zone of Central Texas, where the most common turf grasses are Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine. Each responds differently to restricted watering schedules.

Grass Type	Drought Tolerance	Survives 2-Day Schedule?	Notes
Bermudagrass	High	Yes, goes dormant then recovers	Best performer under restrictions; deep roots
Zoysiagrass	Medium-High	Yes, with deep watering on assigned days	Slow to recover from full dormancy
St. Augustinegrass	Medium	Marginal in peak summer heat	Needs efficient deep watering; wilts quickly above 100°F
Buffalograss	Very High	Yes — thrives under restrictions	Native to Central Texas; ideal low-water alternative

In Georgetown's climate, the most important adjustment under a two-day schedule is watering deeply rather than frequently. Run your irrigation zones long enough to wet the soil 6–8 inches deep on each permitted day rather than running short cycles. Bermuda and Zoysia lawns managed this way develop deeper root systems and tolerate the gaps between watering days far better than shallowly irrigated turf. Raise your mower height to 3.5–4 inches for St. Augustine and 2–2.5 inches for Bermuda during summer stress periods — taller grass shades its own root zone and retains soil moisture longer in Williamson County's clay-heavy soils.

Georgetown's alkaline, expansive clay soils benefit from periodic core aeration, which improves water infiltration and reduces runoff on your assigned watering days. Without aeration, clay soils can become so compacted that irrigation water runs off before it penetrates the root zone — wasting your entire allowed session. Aerating in early fall before the first cool front, combined with a topdressing of compost, significantly improves your turf's ability to bank moisture between watering days under the GUS two-day schedule.

Georgetown water restriction FAQ

How do I find out which days I'm assigned to water in Georgetown?

Your assigned watering days are determined by your street address under the Georgetown Utility Systems schedule. The most reliable way to confirm your specific days is to log in to your GUS account at gus.georgetown.org or contact GUS customer service directly. Your watering group designation may also appear on your utility bill. Do not assume you know your days based on an odd/even split alone — GUS zone assignments can be more granular than a simple odd/even address rule.

Can I water my lawn at noon on my assigned day in Georgetown?

No. Even on your permitted watering days, irrigation is only allowed before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Running sprinklers between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. is a violation of GUS Standard Restrictions regardless of which day it is. Early morning watering before 9 a.m. is the recommended window — evaporation loss is lowest and water pressure in the distribution system is typically more stable at that hour.

Is Georgetown's two-day watering schedule permanent, or does it change with drought conditions?

The two-day schedule is Georgetown's year-round baseline under Standard Restrictions — it does not lift during wet periods. Georgetown Utility Systems designed it as a permanent water management tool for a rapidly growing city. If drought conditions worsen significantly, GUS has the authority to tighten restrictions further, reducing allowed days or adding additional hour limitations. Check gus.georgetown.org for any updated restriction stage announcements.

Can I wash my car at home in Georgetown right now?

Yes, but only on your two assigned watering days, and your hose must have a functioning shut-off nozzle. Letting a hose run freely without a nozzle while washing a vehicle is a violation. Commercial car washes that recycle and recirculate their wash water are not subject to the day restrictions and are a compliant alternative on any day of the week.

Does Georgetown Utility Systems use smart meters to catch irrigation violations?

Georgetown has deployed advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across a large portion of its service area. These smart meters transmit usage data in near real-time to GUS, allowing staff to identify accounts with high water consumption occurring outside of permitted hours or on non-assigned days. This means violations are not limited to what a field inspector physically observes — unusual meter data can trigger a follow-up inspection or direct notice from GUS.

Does Georgetown offer rebates for replacing grass with drought-tolerant landscaping?

Georgetown Utility Systems has offered water conservation rebate programs including incentives for WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers and high-efficiency sprinkler heads. The availability and dollar amounts of turf-replacement or xeriscape conversion rebates change based on program funding cycles. Visit gus.georgetown.org and navigate to the conservation section to view currently active rebate offerings. Given Georgetown's rapid growth and the year-round nature of its restrictions, GUS periodically updates these programs — check before starting any landscape conversion project.

What happens if I just planted new sod — am I still limited to two days per week?

Newly planted sod and seeded areas typically qualify for a temporary establishment exception, which may allow more frequent watering for up to 30 days after installation. You must register your new installation with Georgetown Utility Systems before or immediately after planting to receive this exception. Watering new sod without registering and then being observed on a non-assigned day can still result in a warning under GUS enforcement, even if you intended to qualify for the establishment window. Contact GUS before you install to confirm the current process.

My neighbor is watering on the wrong day — how do I report it?

You can report suspected irrigation violations to Georgetown Utility Systems through the GUS website at gus.georgetown.org. When submitting a report, include the address, the date and time you observed the watering, and whether it was a sprinkler system or hand watering. GUS investigates complaints and, depending on inspector availability, may conduct a follow-up visit. Given that smart meter data is also reviewed, GUS may be able to correlate your report with usage records for that address.

What days can I water my lawn in Georgetown?

2 assigned days/week by address Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle is typically allowed any day during permitted hours.

What time can I water in Georgetown?

Watering is allowed Before 9am or after 7pm. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Georgetown?

First offense: Warning first. Repeat violations: Fines. Contact Georgetown Utility Systems for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Georgetown?

Current Standard Restrictions restrictions are in effect through Year-round. Monitor https://gus.georgetown.org for the latest status.