City of Austin ordinance prohibits water waste at all times throughout the year. Water waste is defined as:

1. Failing to repair a controllable leak, including a broken sprinkler head, a leaking valve, leaking or broken pipes, or a leaking faucet:
2. Operating a permanently installed irrigation system with:
   • a broken head
   • a head that is out of adjustment where the arc of the spray head is over a street or parking lot
   • a head that is misting due to high water pressure
3. During irrigation:
   • allowing water to run off a property such that there is a trail of water that is running in the street for a distance of 50 feet or greater
   • allowing water to pond in the street or parking lot to a depth greater than ¼ of an inch

Each instance of a violation is a separate offense, and a Class C misdemeanor punishable by fines. (excerpted from City Code Section 4-2-51, "Water Use Management", Ord. 20070809- 002; Ord. 20070927-006, pdf)

Download a color illustration of water waste examples to post at your home or office.

Please call 3-1-1 to report water waste, or submit a report online.

Be ready to describe the address or location of the violation, date and time witnessed, and what you saw.