During the dog days of summer in Aggieland, the water supply can run out, causing the city to declare a state of emergency. Read on to learn about lawn watering restrictions in College Station during water shortages.
Water is a precious resource, especially in the brutal Texas heat, so it’s important to know how to do your part to have enough for everyone.
What are the restrictions for watering College Station lawns?
Brazos County only places water restrictions during extreme drought and increased fire risk to protect the people of College Station in the event of water lines breaking or a large fire.
These restrictions are known as contingency plan for drought and water emergency and are implemented to avoid water waste by reducing daily demand.
This plan has three differentiated stages depending on the severity of the drought:
Stage 1: High demand for water
During the first stage, non-essential water use is much more restricted. But what is considered non-essential? Obviously, there are things that need to be watered, but some you can do without for a while.
Non-essential water use includes:
- Vehicle washing
- Watering golf courses
- Recharging of swimming pools and jacuzzis
Now that you have an idea of what is considered “non-essential water use,” here are the mandatory restrictions put in place during the first stage of drought in Cstat:
- Non-essential water use should be done only twice a week in days designated for outdoor watering determined by the city of College Station.
- On the designated watering day, non-essential water use is permitted from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Handheld hoses that automatically shut off when the hose is not held are permitted at any time of day.
There are several things that are No allowed during stage one, regardless of the time of day. These include:
- Solidarity car washes.
- Operate fountains or ornamental ponds (unless they contain aquatic life)
- Wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or tennis courts.
- Use water to control dust
These restrictions are only required if you use the city water system. They do not apply to other water sources, such as recycled water or harvested rainwater.
These restrictions also do not apply to:
- Commercial Plant Nurseries
- Newly Installed Landscaping
- Testing new or recently repaired irrigation systems (if your irrigation system needs repair, see our guide on How Much Does Sprinkler Repair Cost? for more information).
Stage 2: Severe water shortage
That is why now the drought has worsened and the demand for water has increased. To keep demand below 90% of system capacity, more restrictions need to be put in place. Not only do the rules from stage one apply, but there are now some additional restrictions.
These include prohibitions on:
- Using irrigation systems
- Wash cars or other motor vehicles.
- Filling or recharging pools
- Installing new landscapes
What is still permitted is the use of buckets or hand-held hoses with nozzles that automatically close when not held. These can be used only between 6am and 10am and 6pm and 10pm on days designated for non-essential water use.
Stage 3: Emergency in water supply
Now the drought lasts so long that the city is in a state of emergency. In order for everything to return to normal as soon as possible, even more restrictions are imposed on water use:
- All non-essential water use is now prohibited.
- Public service announcements can be posted on radio and television to inform residents to boil water or use bottled water.
- The city manager can order water rationing or cancel service (in this order):
- Recreational users
- Commercial users
- School users
- Residential users
- Hospitals, public health and security facilities.
Tips for Watering Your Lawn in College Station
For the most efficient use of your water, keep these helpful tips in mind:
- Water only two days a week.
- Water for 10 minutes, three times, with at least an hour between each watering. This will give your Texas grass a deep soak.
- Do not operate an irrigation system with broken sprinkler heads.
- Do not allow water to run off your property or pool onto the street or parking lot.
- A layer of organic mulch, such as shredded pine bark, grass clippings, or tree leaves, can increase water absorption by reducing evaporation and keeping plants cool.
- Water lightly after applying chemical fertilizer to your Texas lawn so that you don’t burn the grass. Avoid fertilizing during droughts.
If you’re not sure if your lawn is the best water user, check out our Best Lawn for Central Texas article for professional tips on choosing the grass that best fits your landscape.
College Station Watering Restrictions FAQ
How many minutes should you water your lawn in Texas?
The amount of time you should water your Texas lawn varies depending on the type of soil and your irrigation system. But a general rule is to water the lawn during about 30 minutes, or the time it takes for the soil to soak to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. This ensures that water reaches the plants’ root systems, creating a stronger lawn that can better resist stresses such as drought, diseases or pests.
What are the three rules of irrigation?
The three most important rules for irrigation are these:
- Water evenly
- Keep the foliage dry but the roots moist.
- water in the morning
How often is there a drought in College Station?
College Station has a 50% risk rating due to drought, with 64% of weeks over the last 22 years experiencing some degree of drought.
To prepare for the inevitable possibility of drought in the future, you can prepare your lawn by weeding, fertilizing, overseeding, and aerating during your lawn’s peak growing season in late spring and early summer.
Hire a professional
Want to keep your lawn lush and healthy even during Aggieland’s brutal summers? If you could benefit from an expert, Lawnstarter will connect you with lawn care professionals in your area today.
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Main image credit: AdobeStock
Lydian Pine
Lydian Pine is a creative writer and studio artist whose work first debuted in a short story anthology. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2020 and enjoys video games, theater, and swimming. Lately she has started studying entomology as a hobby.
