McAllen TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in McAllen, Texas

McAllen Public Utility (MPU) maintains a five-stage water conservation plan with a year-round mandatory baseline schedule. Stage 1 is voluntary, Stage 2 is mandatory with a twice-weekly zone-based schedule, and Stages 3 through 5 escalate further as drought conditions worsen. The current operational level is the mandatory zone-based schedule, with sprinkler systems prohibited during midday hours. The plan is codified in Ordinance 2024-134, the city's most recent drought management revision.

Unlike most Texas cities, which assign watering days by the last digit of the property address, McAllen uses a zone-based schedule. The city is divided into geographic zones, each with its own assigned watering days. This approach lets MPU spread peak demand more evenly across the distribution system and reflects the realities of a system serving a fast-growing, geographically dispersed population. To find your zone, call MPU at 956-681-1600 or check the website with your service address.

McAllen sits in the Rio Grande Valley, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States. The MPU service area covers most of Hidalgo County's western half. The water source is the Rio Grande, drawn through the Hidalgo County Irrigation District and treated at MPU's surface-water plants. Like Laredo to the north, McAllen depends on the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico for the river's flow.

MPU is completing a city-wide Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) rollout in 2026 — replacing analog meters with smart meters that report consumption in near-real-time, detect leaks within hours, and enable customers to monitor their own usage through an online portal. The AMI deployment is the largest in the Valley and is changing how MPU enforces its conservation plan: outlier consumption now flags an account within hours instead of waiting for the monthly billing cycle.

MPU General Manager Mark Vega has emphasized that drought restrictions are necessary to ensure adequate supply and pressure during summer months — the Valley's peak demand season runs roughly May through September, with afternoon temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F.

Watering schedule and allowed days

McAllen's mandatory schedule limits sprinkler-based irrigation to two days per week by zone, with allowed hours from midnight to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight. There is no daytime watering during the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday window.

Unlike address-based schedules where neighboring even and odd addresses end up on different days, McAllen's zone schedule keeps a neighborhood on the same days. This makes peer reporting easier: if your neighbors are watering on a different day, that's a flag worth checking.

• Hand watering with a hose or soaker hose: permitted any day, but still subject to the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday blackout.
• Drip irrigation: exempt from the day-of-week schedule and the daytime blackout — the most efficient option for vegetable gardens and ornamental beds.
• Foundation watering with a hand-held hose: permitted any day to prevent foundation cracks from soil shrinkage.
• New sod or seed: variance available through MPU at 956-681-1600.
• Native xeriscape and rock-mulch beds: encouraged; the city promotes valley-native plantings.

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.

What happens if you violate restrictions in McAllen?

Ordinance 2024-134 sets the city's drought-management framework and authorizes fines for violations of any stage of the plan.

• First violation: a written warning. The violation is logged in the MPU enforcement database and the customer's account is flagged.
• Second and subsequent violations: fines per Ordinance 2024-134, added to the customer's water bill. Specific amounts escalate with each offense.
• Persistent violators: potential water-service interruption until reconnect fees are paid and a corrective-action plan is in place.

Detection has improved dramatically with the AMI rollout — outlier consumption now flags an account within hours, and field staff can verify the violation with patrols during the next assigned watering window. Complaint-driven follow-up remains a major source of detected violations as well.

To report a violation, call MPU at 956-681-1600 or use the city's online reporting tool at mcallenpublicutility.com. You do not need to identify yourself.

Appeals can be submitted in writing to MPU within 14 days of the citation, with documentation supporting the appeal — controller logs, repair invoices, or other evidence.

Other outdoor water rules

The conservation 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. midday blackout.
• 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 Valley evaporation is severe.
• 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.
• Agricultural irrigation: governed separately under the Hidalgo County Irrigation District; municipal customers should not use agricultural water for residential lawns.

Water source and infrastructure

McAllen's drinking water is drawn from the Rio Grande via the Hidalgo County Irrigation District. The river is governed by the 1944 Water Treaty between the US and Mexico, which requires Mexico to deliver water from six tributary rivers in northern Mexico over a five-year cycle. Mexico has frequently fallen short on its obligations, particularly during drought years, which directly affects McAllen's available supply.

The two key binational reservoirs are:

• Falcon Reservoir — about 75 miles upstream of McAllen near Zapata, on the Rio Grande. Falcon is the controlling structure for downstream water rights and is the immediate buffer between weather and tap. Storage levels at Falcon directly drive McAllen's drought stage.
• Amistad Reservoir — much further upstream near Del Rio. Amistad is shared with Mexico and feeds Falcon through downstream releases.

Anzalduas Dam, downstream of McAllen on the Rio Grande, is the diversion point where Hidalgo County Irrigation District redirects water from the river into the network of canals that supply both agricultural users and municipal customers including MPU. The irrigation district then sells raw water to MPU under long-standing supply contracts. MPU treats it at multiple surface-water plants for distribution to McAllen customers.

Rio Grande Valley agriculture competes with municipal demand for the same water. The valley's agriculture — citrus, sugarcane, grain sorghum, and produce — is one of Texas's largest farming regions, and irrigation rights to Rio Grande water predate most of the cities. When water is short, the system of priorities becomes contentious. The city has invested in alternative supplies and demand-side conservation precisely because relying on a single river shared with another country and competing with agriculture is structurally fragile.

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

Brown lawn protections in Texas

McAllen has many HOA-governed neighborhoods, particularly in the newer subdivisions on the city's north and west sides. State law gives the city's mandatory water restrictions precedence over HOA covenants requiring green lawns.

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 — all of which McAllen actively encourages.

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

"Dear [HOA Board], the City of McAllen and McAllen Public Utility enforce mandatory water restrictions under Ordinance 2024-134, limiting outdoor irrigation to two days per week with a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday blackout. I am in compliance with the schedule for my assigned zone. 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.

Lawn care during restrictions

McAllen's hot, subtropical 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.

Mow tall. Set St. Augustine to 4 inches and bermuda to 2 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 late fall and early spring instead.

Mature trees deserve attention. Live oak, sabal palm, anacua, and Texas ebony — all common in McAllen — can be supplemented with a slow-drip watering bag at the base during prolonged dry spells.

Consider native xeriscape: native shrubs (Texas sage, esperanza, lantana), drought-tolerant trees, and rock-mulch beds need essentially no scheduled irrigation and are naturally suited to the Valley climate.

Common questions about McAllen water restrictions

What zone am I in for the watering schedule?

McAllen uses geographic zones rather than address numbers. To find your zone, call McAllen Public Utility at 956-681-1600 with your service address, or check the zone map at mcallenpublicutility.com. Each zone has its own two assigned watering days per week.

What days can I water my lawn in McAllen?

Two days per week, by zone. Each zone has its own assigned days; check with MPU for your specific zone. Watering is permitted between midnight and 10 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and midnight.

What time can I water in McAllen?

Outside the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. midday blackout. Practically, before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on your two assigned days for your zone.

What are the fines for watering violations in McAllen?

First violation: a written warning. Subsequent violations: fines per Ordinance 2024-134, added to your water bill. Persistent violators face potential service interruption.

What is the AMI meter rollout and how does it affect me?

MPU is replacing analog water meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) — smart meters that report usage in near-real-time. Customers can view their own usage online and get leak alerts within hours instead of finding out on the next bill. AMI also lets MPU detect schedule violations faster, so accurate watering compliance is more important than ever.

Where does McAllen's water come from?

The Rio Grande, drawn through the Hidalgo County Irrigation District at Anzalduas Dam and treated at MPU's surface-water plants. The river depends on the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico and on storage in the binational Falcon and Amistad reservoirs.

Can I water new sod outside the schedule?

Yes, with a variance from MPU. Call 956-681-1600 to request the variance, which allows more frequent watering during establishment.

How do I report a water waste violation in McAllen?

Call McAllen Public Utility at 956-681-1600 or use the online reporting tool at mcallenpublicutility.com. You do not need to identify yourself.

When will water restrictions end in McAllen?

Current Year-Round Mandatory Conservation restrictions are in effect through Year-round — escalates through 5 stages during drought. Monitor https://www.mcallenpublicutility.com for the latest status.

Can I hand water during McAllen 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 McAllen Public Utility.