Laredo TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Laredo, Texas

Laredo enforces year-round mandatory water conservation as part of its drought contingency plan. The schedule limits outdoor irrigation to two days per week by address, with a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daytime blackout to minimize evaporative loss. The restrictions are permanent because Laredo's water supply, drawn from the Rio Grande, is structurally vulnerable — every drop the city treats has crossed an international border, and the river's flow depends on weather, upstream demand, and the terms of a treaty signed in 1944.

The 1944 Water Treaty between the United States and Mexico governs the allocation of Rio Grande water below Fort Quitman, and it requires Mexico to deliver an average of about 350,000 acre-feet per year from six tributary rivers in northern Mexico over a five-year accounting cycle. Mexico has historically struggled to meet those obligations, particularly in dry years. Mexico's recurring shortfalls on treaty deliveries have been a recurring point of contention with downstream Texas users — Laredo, McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley irrigation districts, and the lower-basin cities all depend on those releases. When Mexico falls behind, US storage in Falcon and Amistad reservoirs declines and Laredo's supply tightens.

Laredo is the largest inland port on the US-Mexico border, with a population of about 270,000 and a binational metropolitan footprint that extends across the river to Nuevo Laredo. Summer heat regularly exceeds 105°F, driving high irrigation demand precisely when the river is most stressed. The Laredo Utilities Department enforces the schedule through patrols and community reporting, with violations prosecuted under the city's water-utility ordinance.

The restrictions apply to every customer of the Laredo Utilities Department water system. Properties with permitted private wells used for irrigation are exempt; some rural-edge properties draw from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, the regional groundwater system that provides supplemental supply to the city itself.

Drought-stage escalations are possible. The city's drought contingency plan includes higher stages with stricter rules — Stage 2 or higher would tighten the schedule further if Falcon Reservoir storage drops below trigger thresholds.

Laredo's watering days and hours

Laredo's mandatory schedule limits sprinkler-based irrigation to two days per week, by the last digit of the property address.

Address last digit	Allowed days	Allowed hours
Even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8)	Wednesday and Saturday	Outside 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9)	Thursday and Sunday	Outside 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

The 10 a.m.–6 p.m. blackout is critical in Laredo's climate. With summer temperatures routinely exceeding 105°F and afternoon humidity often dropping below 25%, daytime evapotranspiration rates can exceed half an inch per day. Watering during peak heat loses 40%+ of applied water before it reaches the root zone.

• Hand watering with a hose or soaker hose: permitted any day, but still subject to the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. blackout.
• Drip irrigation: exempt from both the day-of-week schedule and the daytime blackout.
• Foundation watering with a hand-held hose: permitted any day to prevent foundation cracks from soil shrinkage in Laredo's expansive clay soils.
• New sod or seed: variance available through Laredo Utilities at 956-721-2000.
• Native xeriscape and rock-mulch beds: encouraged; many city neighborhoods have transitioned away from traditional turf.

Watering during measurable rainfall, with broken or misaligned heads, or in a way that causes excessive runoff to the gutter is prohibited at all times.

Violation fines and enforcement

Laredo's drought contingency plan treats schedule violations as municipal-court offenses with escalating fines per the city ordinance.

• First violation: a written warning. The violation is logged.
• Second and subsequent violations: fines per the city ordinance, added to the customer's water bill. Specific amounts are set by City Council and tend to escalate with each offense.
• Persistent violators: potential water-service interruption until reconnect fees are paid and a corrective-action plan is in place.

Detection is through field patrols and complaint-driven follow-up. Laredo's largely flat, arid landscape makes irrigation activity highly visible — a sprinkler running on a Tuesday afternoon stands out from across the neighborhood.

To report a violation, call Laredo Utilities at 956-721-2000 or use the city's online reporting tool. You do not need to identify yourself.

Appeals can be submitted in writing to Laredo Utilities within 14 days of the citation, with documentation supporting the appeal.

Other outdoor water rules

The drought contingency plan covers more than lawn watering:

• Vehicle washing at home: permitted only with a hand-held hose and shut-off nozzle, outside the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. blackout. Driveway hosing for cleaning is prohibited.
• Power washing of driveways, sidewalks, decks, and exteriors: prohibited except for legitimate health-and-safety needs.
• Pool filling and topping off: permitted for top-offs to replace evaporative loss; pool covers strongly encouraged because evaporation in Laredo can lose several inches per week.
• Decorative fountains: must use recirculating systems; non-recirculating fountains are prohibited.
• Construction water (dust suppression, masonry, concrete): contractors should obtain a permit before drawing on city water.
• Watering during rain: prohibited.
• Excessive runoff: prohibited at all times.
• Truck washing and large-vehicle washing: relevant for Laredo's port-trucking economy. Commercial truck washes operate under separate water-recycling permits.

How Laredo gets its water

Laredo draws its drinking water primarily from the Rio Grande, with supplemental supply from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. The city operates two surface-water treatment plants on the river — the Jefferson Street Water Treatment Plant and the El Pico Water Treatment Plant — that together supply the entire municipal distribution system.

The 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico is the foundational legal document governing Laredo's water security. The treaty divides Rio Grande water below Fort Quitman between the two countries. The US is allocated water from US tributaries (mainly the Pecos and Devils rivers), while Mexico must deliver from six Mexican tributaries (Conchos, San Diego, San Rodrigo, Escondido, Salado, and Las Vacas) on a five-year average of approximately 350,000 acre-feet per year. The water is stored in two binational reservoirs: Amistad Reservoir (upstream of Laredo, on the Devils River and Rio Grande confluence) and Falcon Reservoir (downstream of Laredo, near Zapata).

Mexico's treaty deliveries have been a recurring source of friction. Mexico fell behind on its 2020–2025 cycle obligations, drawing protests from Texas governors and members of Congress. When Mexico runs short, US storage in Amistad and Falcon declines and downstream cities — Laredo first, then McAllen, Brownsville, and the irrigation districts — feel the squeeze. Conversely, when Mexico releases above its required amount, US reservoirs gain.

Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer: this regional groundwater system runs from northeast Texas to the Mexican border and provides supplemental supply to several South Texas cities. Laredo's groundwater contribution is modest compared to its Rio Grande draw but is an important hedge against river-flow uncertainty.

Falcon Reservoir levels are the most-watched indicator for Laredo. The reservoir is the controlling structure for downstream water rights and is the immediate buffer between weather and tap. As of May 2026, Falcon was below its long-term average storage, contributing to the year-round mandatory schedule.

For real-time data, the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) publishes Amistad and Falcon storage daily.

HOA and brown lawn protections

Laredo has a growing number of HOA-governed neighborhoods, particularly in the newer subdivisions on the city's north and east sides. State law gives the city's mandatory water restrictions precedence over HOA covenants.

Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOAs from restricting drought-resistant landscaping, water-conserving turf, and compliance with municipal water conservation measures. The statute also protects xeriscape conversions, rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation upgrades.

Sample response if you receive an HOA brown-lawn violation notice in Laredo:

"Dear [HOA Board], the City of Laredo enforces year-round mandatory water conservation limiting outdoor irrigation to two days per week with a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daytime blackout. I am in compliance with that schedule. Under Texas Property Code § 202.007, my compliance with the city's water conservation measures takes precedence over any landscape covenant in our governing documents. Please withdraw the violation. Sincerely, [Your name]"

Keep records of correspondence. Texas HOAs face liability under § 202.007 if they persist in penalizing compliant homeowners.

Keeping your lawn alive on restricted water

Laredo's hot, semi-arid climate strongly favors warm-season grasses with high heat tolerance. St. Augustine and bermudagrass dominate residential lawns, with buffalograss and zoysia as drought-tolerant alternatives.

Grass type	Survival watering	Mow height	Notes
Bermudagrass	Tolerates drought; goes dormant cleanly	1.5–2 in	Most heat-tolerant common option
St. Augustine	Higher water demand; needs more frequent watering	3–4 in	Common but stressed in full sun without shade
Zoysiagrass	Highly drought-tolerant; slow to recover	1.5–2.5 in	Good drought hedge
Buffalograss	Native to the region; minimal water needs	2–3 in	Best long-term native option

Mow tall. Set bermuda to 2 inches and St. Augustine to 4 inches. Taller blades shade the soil and protect crowns from extreme heat.

Leave clippings as mulch. Mulched clippings return moisture and nitrogen and reduce the lawn's water demand.

Skip summer fertilizer. Fertilizer pushes growth, which increases water demand. Apply in fall and early spring instead.

Replace turf with native xeriscape where you can. Many newer Laredo homes have rock gardens, native shrubs, and drought-tolerant trees instead of lawn — the resulting landscape needs essentially no scheduled irrigation and is naturally suited to the climate.

Mature trees deserve attention. Live oak, mesquite, Texas ebony, and Mexican palo verde — all common in Laredo — can be supplemented with a slow-drip watering bag at the base during prolonged dry spells.

Laredo water restriction FAQ

What days can I water my lawn in Laredo?

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

What time can I water in Laredo?

Outside the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. blackout. Practically, before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on your two assigned days. Watering during the daytime blackout is a violation.

Does the Mexico water treaty affect my watering days?

Indirectly, yes. Laredo's Rio Grande allocation depends partly on Mexico meeting its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. When Mexico falls behind on tributary deliveries — which has happened repeatedly in recent decades — US storage in Amistad and Falcon reservoirs declines and Laredo's supply tightens. The city's permanent twice-weekly schedule reflects that long-term uncertainty.

What are the fines for violations?

First offense: a written warning. Subsequent offenses: fines per the city ordinance, added to your water bill, escalating with each violation. Persistent violators face potential service interruption.

Where does Laredo's water come from?

Primarily the Rio Grande, treated at two surface-water plants. Supplemental groundwater from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. The two binational reservoirs — Amistad upstream and Falcon downstream — store the water and buffer it against weather and treaty-cycle variability.

I'm on a private well — do restrictions apply to me?

No. The city's mandatory schedule applies only to customers of the Laredo Utilities Department water system. Private well users, who draw from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer or shallower wells, are exempt. Voluntary conservation is still encouraged.

Can I water new sod outside the schedule?

Yes, with a variance from Laredo Utilities. Call 956-721-2000 to request the variance. It allows more frequent watering during the establishment period.

How do I report a water waste violation in Laredo?

Call Laredo Utilities at 956-721-2000 or use the city's online reporting tool at ci.laredo.tx.us/utilities. You do not need to identify yourself.

When will water restrictions end in Laredo?

Current Year-Round Mandatory Conservation restrictions are in effect through Year-round — permanent. Monitor https://www.ci.laredo.tx.us/utilities for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Laredo 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 Laredo Utilities Department.