Crowley 2025 Water Schedule: Rules, Exceptions, and Smart Ways to Save

Keeping lawns green and gardens healthy in Crowley doesn’t have to clash with water conservation. In 2025, the City of Crowley continues enforcing Stage 1 Watering Restrictions and year-round irrigation rules designed to curb waste and protect our shared water supply. This guide breaks down the key restrictions, the practical exceptions, and smart ways to keep your landscape thriving while staying fully compliant.

You’ll learn:

The core watering rules you must follow in Crowley in 2025
Exceptions for foundations, new turf, and system maintenance
A simple schedule to make compliance easy
Practical lawn, garden, and irrigation tips that save water (and money)
Community and environmental benefits of sticking to the guidelines

By the end, you’ll have a clear plan to manage your yard without risking fines or wasting water.

What the 2025 Crowley Water Schedule Requires

Crowley’s water schedule focuses on reducing peak-hour demand and stopping waste from runoff and broken equipment. The rules are straightforward and apply citywide.

The Core Restrictions

No watering with automatic irrigation systems or sprinklers between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Water only on designated twice-weekly days (per the city’s year-round irrigation schedule).
Hand-held hose watering is allowed at any time.
No watering on hard surfaces (driveways, sidewalks, streets, patios).
No watering during precipitation.
No runoff: water should not flow off your yard or beyond 50 feet.
Fix wasteful issues: no watering through missing, misaligned, or broken sprinkler heads.

Why these hours? Watering during late morning and afternoon leads to higher evaporation and peak system demand. Watering outside 10 a.m.–6 p.m. improves absorption and reduces stress on the city’s system.

Exceptions You Should Know

Foundation watering: Up to two hours any day using a hand-held hose, soaker hose, or drip line within 24 inches of the foundation. Keep the water low and targeted—no spray above ground.
System testing and repairs: Supervised testing, maintenance, or repairs are allowed as needed. Keep it short and targeted.
New turf: Establishing new sod or seed is discouraged. If you must, apply for a variance from the city before installation.
Vehicle washing: Allowed using a bucket or a hose with a positive shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes are okay any time.
Pools and landscaping: Residents are urged to reduce the frequency of draining/refilling pools and to use native, drought-tolerant plants.

These exceptions recognize that foundations, safety, and limited maintenance sometimes require flexibility, while still prioritizing conservation.

How to Build a Simple, Compliant Watering Plan

A clear plan keeps you on track. Here’s how to set one up for your home.

Step 1: Confirm Your Two Designated Days

Crowley’s year-round irrigation requires twice-weekly watering on designated days. Check the city’s official water schedule page to match your address or customer class to the correct days. Add them to your phone calendar and set reminders.

Tip: If rain is forecast or soil is still moist, skip a cycle. Your lawn will thank you, and you’ll save money.

Step 2: Set Watering Windows Outside 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Program your system to run in the early morning (ideal: 4–8 a.m.). This reduces evaporation and disease pressure and improves soil infiltration. If you’re hand-watering, stick to early morning or evening.

Step 3: Calibrate Run Times by Zone

Rotor zones (larger heads that rotate): 20–30 minutes per cycle, 1–2 cycles depending on soil.
Spray zones (fixed heads): 8–12 minutes per cycle.
Drip zones: 30–60 minutes, as needed, because drip applies water slowly and efficiently to the root zone.

Clay soils common in North Texas benefit from “cycle and soak”:

Break one long run into two or three shorter cycles with 30–60 minutes between them. Example: three 8-minute spray cycles instead of one 24-minute run. This reduces runoff and improves penetration.

Step 4: Use Soil Moisture Cues

Water when the grass or plants need it, not just because a timer says so.

Lawn: If footprints linger or blades fold, it’s time to water.
Shrubs and beds: Probe 3–4 inches with a screwdriver. If it goes in easily, hold off. If the top few inches are dry and hard, water.

Step 5: Log Maintenance Checks

Each month, do a quick system audit:

Replace broken or missing heads.
Realign tilted or mis-aimed nozzles.
Clear grass and soil from around heads for a full spray pattern.
Check for leaks at valves, lateral lines, and backflow preventers.
Test the rain sensor; replace batteries yearly if applicable.

These steps keep you compliant by preventing runoff and obvious water waste.

Practical Tips to Keep Lawns and Gardens Healthy Under Restrictions

You can maintain a vibrant landscape within the city’s rules by focusing on soil health, smart watering, and plant selection.

Lawn Care Tips

Mow high: Set your mower to 3–3.5 inches for St. Augustine or tall fescue, and around 2.5–3 inches for bermuda in summer. Taller grass shades soil, reduces evaporation, and crowds out weeds.
Sharpen blades: Clean cuts reduce stress and water needs. Dull blades tear grass, causing browning and higher water demand.
Feed wisely: Use slow-release, balanced fertilizer at recommended rates. Over-fertilizing increases water needs and disease risk. Time fertilization for active growth periods.
Aerate compacted spots: Core aeration once a year helps water reach roots, especially in heavy clay.
Topdress with compost: A thin layer (¼ inch) improves soil structure, boosts water retention, and feeds beneficial microbes.

Garden and Bed Strategies

Choose drought-tolerant plants: Native and adapted species thrive with less water and are encouraged by the city. Examples for North Texas include coneflower, salvia, lantana, Turk’s cap, autumn sage, rosemary, and Texas sage.
Mulch 2–3 inches deep: Organic mulch cuts evaporation, moderates soil temperature, and suppresses weeds. Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks and stems.
Group by water need: Place high-water plants together and low-water plants together so you can tailor irrigation zones.
Use drip irrigation: Drip meets the city’s rules, targets roots, and minimizes evaporation and overspray. It’s ideal for beds, shrubs, and vegetable gardens.

Smart Irrigation Upgrades

Weather-based controllers: These adjust run times based on temperature, rainfall, and ET (evapotranspiration). They can cut outdoor water use by 20–40% in many homes.
Soil moisture sensors: Pause watering when soil moisture is adequate.
Pressure regulation: Many spray heads mist or fog when pressure is too high. Use pressure-regulated heads or install a PRV to reduce waste.
High-efficiency nozzles: Rotary nozzles apply water more slowly and evenly, reducing runoff and improving uniformity.

These upgrades often pay for themselves in one or two seasons through lower water bills.

Staying Compliant: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watering during restricted hours: Keep irrigation off from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Use controller lockouts or time blocks to prevent accidental runs.
Letting water hit hardscapes: Adjust head angles and arc settings so spray doesn’t hit sidewalks or streets.
Ignoring a broken head: A single broken head can waste hundreds of gallons per cycle and is a clear violation.
Overwatering after rain: Install and test a rain sensor. If your controller supports it, enable rain and freeze shut-down features.
Creating runoff: Use cycle-and-soak, reduce run times on slopes, and switch to rotary nozzles.

What If You’re Establishing New Turf?

The city discourages new turf because it often needs extra water to establish. If you must install sod or seed:

Apply for a variance with the City of Crowley before installation.
Choose drought-tolerant varieties (for example, TifTuf bermuda or buffalo grass where appropriate).
Prep soil well: Till in compost, level, and ensure good contact to reduce watering needs.
Use drip lines or hand-watering to target roots and avoid overspray.
Transition to the standard twice-weekly schedule as soon as roots are established.

This approach respects the rules and helps the new lawn settle in with fewer problems.

Foundation Watering: Protect Your Home the Right Way

North Texas soils expand and contract with moisture swings. Foundation watering helps prevent movement and cracks.

Use a soaker hose or drip line 12–24 inches from the foundation.
Run up to two hours on any day, as allowed by the city.
Keep flow low so water soaks in rather than puddles or sprays.
Avoid spraying above ground level to stay within the exception.

Combine this with gutters, downspout extensions, and proper grading to direct stormwater away from the slab.

Community and Environmental Benefits of Following the Schedule

Your efforts add up. When residents follow the 2025 water schedule:

We reduce peak demand: Watering outside 10 a.m.–6 p.m. keeps pressure stable and lowers the risk of main breaks.
We save water for essential uses: Hospitals, schools, and firefighting rely on steady supply and pressure.
We lower utility costs: Less waste and fewer emergency repairs can help control long-term rates.
We protect local waterways: Preventing runoff keeps fertilizers and sediments out of storm drains and creeks.
We build drought resilience: Using native plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation prepares landscapes for heat waves and dry spells.

These gains are practical and measurable—and they start with everyday habits at home.

A Week-in-the-Life Example Schedule

Here’s how a compliant week might look for a typical Crowley household following the 2025 watering rules:

Sunday:

No automatic irrigation. If needed, hand-water flower beds or foundation in the early morning or evening.

Monday:

Designated watering day. Set sprinklers or irrigation system to run between 4–8 a.m., finishing before 10 a.m. Use only the run times recommended for your zone (rotors: 20–30 min, spray: 8–12 min, drip: 30–60 min).
Check weather forecast—if it rained recently or rain is expected, skip watering.

Tuesday:

Inspect your system briefly for leaks or broken heads. Hand-water potted plants or new transplants as needed.

Wednesday:

Non-watering day. Perform routine lawn care: mowing (with blades set high), edging, or mulching.

Thursday:

Designated watering day. As on Monday, run irrigation before 10 a.m. Check the soil moisture first to avoid unnecessary watering.
Use this day to water the foundation (with a soaker/drip hose for up to two hours) if soil near the foundation looks dry.

Friday:

Inspect all sprinkler heads for alignment and clear any obstructions. Hand-water bedding plants in the evening if it’s been especially hot.

Saturday:

Mulch and tidy garden beds, check that rain sensor or soil moisture devices work properly, and review your water bill or usage through city utilities for the week.
Wash vehicles using a hand-held bucket or hose with a shutoff nozzle if necessary.

All week:

Avoid all watering with sprinklers/irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Never water during precipitation or allow runoff.
Adjust based on weather conditions and your plants’ needs.

For more details and further tips, visit the Crowley Texas Water Schedule Blog Post.

With this schedule, you’ll keep your landscape healthy, protect your foundation, and fully comply with Crowley’s 2025 water conservation requirements—saving both water and money while supporting your community.

Crowley, Texas General Information

Official Website: www.ci.crowley.tx.us
Crowley City Conservation: (817) 274-0221