2025 Houston Water Conservation Guidelines

Houston’s future depends on smart water use. The 2025 Houston Water Conservation Guidelines set a clear path to safeguard supplies, reduce waste, and keep bills manageable—especially as our region faces hotter summers, population growth, and periodic drought. This guide breaks down what’s required under the city’s plan, the tools and programs available to you, how new Texas legislation affects homeowners, and the most effective steps you can take right now.

By the end, you’ll know:

The minimum conservation plan requirements and what they mean for residents and businesses
City of Houston programs that help you save water (and money)
Recent legal changes that support conservation, including HOA limitations
Practical, proven tips for cutting water use at home and in the landscape

What the 2025 Conservation Plan Requires

Houston’s Water Conservation Plan aligns with state rules in the Texas Administrative Code and sets measurable goals for reducing per capita water use. While the plan is technical, several core requirements affect daily life across the city:

Minimum Conservation Plan Requirements (At a Glance)

Measurable targets: Houston tracks gallons per capita per day (GPCD) and aims to reduce it over time through education, incentives, and infrastructure improvements.
Leak detection and repair: Utilities must implement leak detection programs and maintain timelines for fixing identified losses in the system. Residents and businesses are encouraged—and in some cases required—to address known leaks quickly.
Universal metering and accurate billing: The plan requires metering for all connections and procedures to ensure accurate measurement and billing. This supports tiered rates and usage audits.
Water loss control program: Annual water audits, line repairs, and pressure management reduce “non-revenue water”—the water lost before it reaches your tap.
Conservation pricing: Increasing block rates (tiered pricing) encourage lower use by making high-volume consumption more expensive. This aligns cost with impact.
Education and outreach: The city is required to offer public education campaigns, school programs, and conservation resources that promote efficient practices indoors and outdoors.
Drought contingency coordination: The plan fits within broader drought stages, meaning the city can escalate restrictions during shortages—think reduced irrigation days, time-of-day limits, and temporary bans on nonessential uses.

Why this matters: These requirements create a stable framework that rewards efficiency, prioritizes repairs, and supports investment in water-saving technologies. For you, it means more tools, better data, and clearer expectations—especially during dry spells.

City of Houston Tools and Resources to Help You Save

Houston Public Works offers a growing toolkit for residents, HOAs, and businesses. If you’re looking to cut water use without sacrificing comfort or curb appeal, start by visiting the City of Houston Water Conservation page for helpful programs, resources, and updates.### Rebates and Incentives

High-efficiency toilets (HETs): Rebates often cover a portion of the cost for replacing 3.5+ gallon toilets with WaterSense models using 1.28 gallons or less per flush. Swapping two older toilets can save over 8,000 gallons per year.
Smart irrigation controllers: Weather-based or soil moisture-based controllers adjust watering automatically. Rebates help offset upfront costs, and savings can reach 20–40% on outdoor use.
Efficient nozzles and drip conversion: Rebates may be available for high-efficiency spray nozzles and drip systems in shrub or bed areas, reducing overspray and evaporation.
Commercial upgrades: Larger users can access incentives for cooling tower controls, process water reuse, and submetering for better monitoring.

Tip: Always check eligibility and pre-approval requirements before purchasing equipment.

Education and Workshops

Free classes: Learn how to design drought-tolerant landscapes, audit sprinkler systems, fix common leaks, and read your water bill like a pro.
School programs: Classroom resources and STEM-aligned modules teach students how to protect Houston’s water future.
Neighborhood outreach: Pop-up events, HOA presentations, and community demonstrations help you apply best practices on your block.

Water Use Dashboards and Audits

Customer portals: Many accounts can access usage data down to the hour. These dashboards flag unusual spikes that signal a leak.
DIY home water audit checklists: Step-by-step guides help you test fixtures, check irrigation zones, and locate hidden losses.
Commercial water audits: Businesses can request more detailed assessments to target meaningful savings.

Landscape Templates and Native Plant Guides

Houston-adapted plant lists: Find heat- and drought-tolerant species that thrive in our climate. Native and adapted plants need less water and fewer chemicals.
Rainwater harvesting basics: Guides show how to size barrels or cisterns, connect downspouts, and integrate captured water into drip systems.

New Texas Laws Affecting Water Conservation

Recent state legislation strengthens conservation by removing barriers and clarifying rights:

HOA restrictions eased during drought: Homeowner associations can no longer fine residents for letting lawns go dormant or for cutting back irrigation during declared drought stages. This ensures compliance with city drought rules doesn’t cost you extra.
Xeriscape and native plants: Existing state protections support drought-tolerant landscaping. HOAs cannot prohibit WaterSense landscaping or water-efficient designs that meet reasonable aesthetic standards.
Nonfunctional turf scrutiny: Across Texas, policymakers and utilities are increasingly discouraging high-water turf in non-recreational areas (e.g., narrow strips). Houston aligns with this trend through incentives and public guidance.

What this means for you: You have clearer legal backing to conserve. If your HOA rules conflict with city drought measures or water-efficient landscaping, state law sides with conservation.

Indoor Water-Saving Wins You Can Do This Week

Indoor water savings are fast, low-cost, and often invisible to guests—perfect starting points.

Fix Leaks First

Toilets: A silent leak can waste hundreds of gallons per day. Drop a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if color appears in the bowl without flushing, replace the flapper.
Faucets and showers: Replace worn cartridges and washers. A $5 aerator can cut faucet flow to 1.0–1.5 gallons per minute with no loss in comfort.
Water heater and supply lines: Inspect for drips and corrosion. Place a dry paper towel under suspect fittings overnight to spot slow leaks.

Estimated savings: A typical household can save 10–15% by fixing leaks alone.

Upgrade Fixtures

Showerheads: Choose WaterSense showerheads using 2.0 gallons per minute or less. Many feel better than older, higher-flow models thanks to improved spray design.
Toilets: If your toilet predates 1994, replacement is usually the most cost-effective move. Dual-flush models provide flexibility with each use.
Appliances: Look for ENERGY STAR and high-efficiency dishwashers and clothes washers. Front-load washers use less water and energy than many top-load models.

Smart Habits

Full loads only: Run dishwashers and washers at full capacity. Modern dishwashers clean well without pre-rinsing dishes.
Shorter showers: Even trimming one minute per person saves thousands of gallons per year in a family home.
Capture and reuse: Keep a bucket in the shower while water warms. Use it on houseplants or outdoor pots.

Outdoor Water-Saving Strategies That Work in Houston

Outdoor use can account for 30–60% of summer water demand in Houston. Targeting irrigation and landscape design yields the biggest gains.

Irrigation Scheduling and Tech

Water by need, not by schedule: In spring and fall, many lawns need little or no supplemental irrigation. In summer, start with two days per week and adjust based on rainfall and soil moisture.
Time of day: Water before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to reduce evaporation. Midday watering wastes water and stresses plants.
Smart controllers and sensors: Weather-based controllers skip cycles after rain and adjust for temperature, humidity, and wind. Soil moisture sensors stop watering when the soil is already wet.
Audit your system: Check for clogged nozzles, broken heads, and misaligned sprays. Overspray onto sidewalks and streets is water—and money—down the drain.

Landscape Design for Less Thirst

Right plant, right place: Group plants by water needs. Put high-need plants together near a hose or drip line and use mulch to retain moisture.
Shrink the lawn: Replace hard-to-water strips with beds, groundcovers, or permeable pathways. Choose drought-tolerant grasses where turf is needed.
Mulch smart: Maintain 2–3 inches of organic mulch around trees and beds to slow evaporation, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
Drip irrigation in beds: Drip delivers water to the root zone with minimal loss. It’s ideal for shrubs, trees, and vegetable gardens.

Rainwater and Stormwater

Rain barrels and cisterns: Even a single downpour can fill a barrel. Use harvested water for pots, beds, and new plantings.
Downspout redirection: Send runoff to landscaped areas or rain gardens instead of driveways. This reduces flooding and provides free irrigation.
Soil health: Compost increases water-holding capacity, cutting watering needs over time.

How Businesses and Multifamily Properties Can Lead

Large water users have outsized savings potential—and strong incentives to act.

Submetering: Install submeters for tenant spaces, irrigation, cooling towers, and processes. Data drives accountability and fast fixes.
Cooling towers: Optimize cycles of concentration, use conductivity controllers, and check for leaks and overflows. This can save millions of gallons annually in large facilities.
Fixture retrofits: Replace common-area fixtures with low-flow models and add automatic shutoff valves in restrooms.
Landscape contracts tied to outcomes: Pay for performance, not just visits. Require seasonal irrigation audits and smart controller programming.

What to Expect During Drought Stages

Houston’s drought contingency measures escalate based on supply conditions. While specifics can vary by declaration, you can always expect the city to prioritize essential uses, enforce outdoor watering restrictions, and communicate clearly with residents and businesses about what’s required.

Water conservation is everyone’s responsibility—homeowners, renters, businesses, and entire communities. By following Houston’s 2025 guidelines, taking advantage of city programs, and embracing practical changes indoors and out, we can all protect our supply, lower our bills, and build resilience for the future. Every drop matters, especially as our city grows and climate conditions change. Together, our everyday actions can ensure a sustainable water future for generations to come.