Midland TX Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Midland, Texas

Midland enforces permanent year-round water restrictions — not because of a passing drought, but because the city's water supply is structurally constrained. Sitting in the heart of the Permian Basin, Midland depends on the Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD) and a 60-mile pipeline to T-Bar Ranch for groundwater backup. Even with that infrastructure, regional water planners project potential shortages by 2050. The twice-weekly schedule is permanent because the underlying supply problem is permanent.

The 2011 drought emergency is the defining event in Midland's modern water history. That year, CRMWD's surface reservoirs — Lakes Thomas, Spence, and Ivie — dropped to historic lows. Midland's storage came within months of running out, and the city imposed emergency rationing while racing to build a new groundwater pipeline. The 60-mile T-Bar Ranch pipeline opened in 2013 and added a second water source independent of the surface reservoirs. The 2026 baseline restrictions reflect the lessons learned in 2011: don't wait for an emergency to conserve.

The other defining feature of Midland's water situation is the oil and gas industry. Hydraulic fracturing — fracking — has surged in the Permian Basin since 2011. Modern "monster-frac" wells use roughly seven times more water per well than 2011-era frack jobs, and the basin now drills several thousand new wells per year. This puts Midland's municipal water system in direct, indirect, and sometimes legal competition with oil-producer demand for the same regional water resources. The state has tried to encourage non-fresh-water use for fracking, with limited success.

Restrictions apply to every customer of Midland Utilities. Properties with permitted private wells used for irrigation are exempt; private wells are uncommon in city neighborhoods but more common in the rural fringe. Variances for new sod or seed are available through Midland Utilities at 432-685-7410 or via the online Citizen Request Tracker.

Your assigned watering schedule

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

The 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daytime blackout is critical in West Texas because of extreme summer heat — Midland regularly exceeds 100°F for 60+ days per year. Daytime watering loses 40%+ of applied water to evaporation in those conditions, which is why the rule prioritizes overnight and early-morning irrigation.

• 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 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 in the dry, expansive clay soils common to Midland.
• New sod or seed: variance available through the city.
• Native xeriscape and rock-mulch beds: encouraged; many city neighborhoods have transitioned to native landscaping that requires no scheduled irrigation.

The city's turf reduction rebate program offers cash incentives for homeowners who replace traditional lawn with native xeriscape — a recognition that lawn-level conservation is one of the few demand-side levers the city can pull against an effectively fixed regional supply.

Fines and penalties

Midland's drought contingency ordinance treats violations as municipal-court offenses with escalating fines.

• First violation: a written warning. The violation is logged in the city's enforcement database.
• Second and subsequent violations: fines per the drought contingency ordinance, added to the customer's water bill. Specific amounts are set by Council ordinance and tend to escalate with each offense.
• Persistent violators: the Utilities Director can request a hearing for service interruption in extreme cases.

Detection is through field patrols by Utilities staff, complaint-driven follow-up, and consumption-data review (unusually high summer use flags accounts for inspection). The 2011 emergency taught enforcement staff to act faster on outlier consumption.

To report a violation, call 432-685-7410 or use the online Citizen Request Tracker at midlandtexas.gov. You do not need to identify yourself for the report to be investigated.

Appeals to a citation should be filed in writing with Midland Utilities within 14 days, with documentation supporting the appeal — controller logs, repair invoices, or other evidence.

Other outdoor water rules

The drought contingency ordinance 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; new pool fills require a permit. Pool covers are strongly encouraged because evaporation in West Texas can lose several inches per week from an uncovered pool.
• Decorative fountains: must use recirculating systems; non-recirculating fountains are prohibited.
• Construction water (dust suppression, masonry, concrete): contractors should obtain a permit and consider non-potable sources where feasible.
• Watering during rain or freezing temperatures: prohibited.
• Excessive runoff: prohibited at all times.
• City landscape and median irrigation: reduced as part of the post-2011 conservation program; many former turf medians have been converted to xeriscape.

The city also reduced flushing of water mains and adjusted operational practices to minimize waste — small but meaningful steps when total supply is structurally limited.

Midland's water supply and source

Midland's water supply has two distinct components: surface water from the Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD) and groundwater pumped from T-Bar Ranch via a 60-mile pipeline.

CRMWD surface sources:

• Lake J.B. Thomas — built in 1952; smallest of the three reservoirs and prone to going dry during severe drought.
• E.V. Spence Reservoir — built in 1969; mid-size storage on the Colorado River.
• O.H. Ivie Reservoir — built in 1990; largest of the three and currently the workhorse of the system.

All three are surface reservoirs in semi-arid West Texas, where evaporation losses can exceed 6 feet per year on open water. CRMWD also owns and operates groundwater fields including Ward County and is exploring additional sources to address the long-term supply gap.

T-Bar Ranch and Clearwater Ranch: after the 2011 emergency, Midland built a 60-mile pipeline to T-Bar Ranch in Winkler County, drawing groundwater from the Pecos Valley aquifer. The pipeline added approximately 30 million gallons per day of capacity and is the city's primary insurance against another reservoir-collapse scenario. Clearwater Ranch, acquired more recently, provides additional groundwater backup.

The 2050 supply gap: regional water planners project that, even with current infrastructure, Midland faces a potential shortage by 2050 absent additional sources. Population growth, oil-industry demand, and climate trends all push the curve in the wrong direction. Conversations about additional reservoirs, brackish-water desalination, and aggressive demand-side conservation continue.

For real-time reservoir conditions, CRMWD publishes daily storage data at crmwd.org. Spence and Thomas have repeatedly fallen below 10% of capacity during the past two decades; Ivie has been more stable but is also vulnerable to multi-year droughts.

HOA rules during water restrictions

Midland's HOA-governed neighborhoods, particularly the newer subdivisions on the city's growing west and north sides, often have covenants requiring green, irrigated lawns. State law gives the city's permanent water restrictions precedence.

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 Midland actively encourages.

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

"Dear [HOA Board], the City of Midland enforces permanent year-round water restrictions 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.

Lawn survival guide for Midland

Midland's arid West Texas climate favors warm-season grasses with strong drought tolerance. Bermuda and buffalograss are the local champions; St. Augustine survives only in irrigated, shaded yards.

Replace turf with native xeriscape where you can — the city offers rebates that more than pay for the conversion, and the resulting landscape needs essentially no scheduled irrigation.

Mow tall. Set bermuda to 2 inches and buffalograss to 3. Taller blades shade soil and protect crowns.

Leave clippings as mulch. Mulched clippings return moisture and nitrogen.

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

Mature trees deserve special attention. Mesquite, live oak, pecan, and Texas red oak — all common in Midland — can be supplemented with a slow-drip watering bag at the base during prolonged dry spells. Mature trees are the highest-value water investment in any landscape and are slow to replace.

Frequently asked questions

What days can I water my lawn in Midland?

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 Midland?

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.

Why are Midland's restrictions permanent when other cities lift theirs?

Midland's water supply from CRMWD surface reservoirs is structurally limited. Lakes Thomas, Spence, and Ivie are vulnerable to drought and West Texas evaporation. The 60-mile T-Bar Ranch pipeline added groundwater capacity but didn't eliminate the underlying constraint, and regional planners still project a supply gap by 2050. The permanent twice-weekly schedule reflects the permanent supply problem.

What happened during the 2011 drought?

CRMWD's surface reservoirs dropped to historic lows. Midland came within months of running out of water. The city imposed emergency rationing and accelerated construction of the T-Bar Ranch groundwater pipeline, which opened in 2013. The lessons of 2011 drove Midland's permanent restrictions.

How does the oil industry affect Midland's water supply?

Hydraulic fracturing — fracking — competes with municipal water demand for regional supplies. Modern "monster-frac" wells use about seven times more water per well than 2011-era jobs, and the basin drills several thousand wells per year. The state has encouraged non-fresh-water use for fracking with limited results, so the competition continues.

Can I water new sod outside the schedule?

Yes, with a variance from Midland Utilities at 432-685-7410 or via the Citizen Request Tracker. The variance allows more frequent watering during establishment.

What are the fines for violations?

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

How do I report a water waste violation in Midland?

Call Midland Utilities at 432-685-7410 or use the Citizen Request Tracker at midlandtexas.gov. You do not need to identify yourself.

When will water restrictions end in Midland?

Current Permanent Year-Round Water Conservation restrictions are in effect through Year-round — permanent. Monitor https://www.midlandtexas.gov/166/Utilities for the latest status.

Can I hand water during Midland 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 City of Midland Utilities.