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Guide · San Antonio · Updated 2026-10-14

Watering your foundation under San Antonio's drought rules

Much of San Antonio sits on clay that swells when it gets wet and shrinks as it dries. In a long dry spell the soil around a slab can shrink and pull away, and the edge of the foundation can drop. Many Texas foundation companies recommend keeping the soil around the house evenly moist. In San Antonio, how you do that depends on the San Antonio Water System's drought rules.

How clay soil moves a slab After rain the clay swells and the slab sits level. In a dry spell the clay shrinks, cracks open in the soil, and the edge of the slab drops. After rain: the clay swells and the slab sits level Dry spell: the clay shrinks and the slab edge drops clay soil
A simplified cross-section. Real movement is a fraction of an inch to a few inches, and it is uneven, which is what cracks walls.

The rules right now: Stage 2

SAWS moved from Stage 3 to Stage 2 restrictions on Tuesday 4 August 2026, as KSAT reported. Under Stage 2, according to SAWS:

  • A soaker hose counts as landscape irrigation, the same as a sprinkler or irrigation system. You can use one once a week, on your designated watering day, between 5 and 10 a.m. or between 9 p.m. and midnight.
  • Drip irrigation is allowed on Mondays and Fridays during those same hours.
  • A hand-held hose is allowed any time, on any day.

SAWS changes stages as the Edwards Aquifer rises and falls, so check the current stage on saws.org before you set up a routine.

Your watering day

Your designated day comes from the last digit of your street address.

Address ends inWatering day
0 or 1Monday
2 or 3Tuesday
4 or 5Wednesday
6 or 7Thursday
8 or 9Friday

Properties without a street address water on Wednesday. Pick your digit below to see your week.

Under Stage 2MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Soaker hose or sprinklerYour designated day only (see the table above)
Drip irrigationYesYes
Hand-held hoseYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Soaker hoses, sprinklers and drip irrigation may run only between 5 and 10 a.m. or 9 p.m. and midnight. A hand-held hose is allowed at any time. Source: SAWS Stage 2 rules.

SAWS explains its watering hours in this short video.

Video: "New watering rules for Stage 2 & 3", San Antonio Water System on YouTube.

A routine that fits the rules

  • Run a soaker hose around the foundation on your watering day, inside the allowed hours.
  • Between those days, top up dry spots with a hand-held hose, which you can use any day.
  • Water evenly all the way around. Soaking one side and leaving another dry can make the movement worse.
  • Do not flood the soil. Water pooling against the slab causes its own problems, and so does a soaker hose left running for hours.
  • Look at gutters and the slope of the ground too. Water that drains toward the house in a storm and away from it in a drought means bigger swings in the clay.

Watering helps prevent movement. It will not lift a foundation that has already dropped. If you are seeing new cracks, sticking doors or sloping floors, read our guide to signs of foundation problems.

Already seeing damage? Compare the ten most-reviewed foundation repair companies in San Antonio.

See the top 10 companies

Common questions

Can I water my foundation with a soaker hose during San Antonio drought restrictions?

Under SAWS Stage 2, a soaker hose counts as irrigation and can run once a week on your designated watering day, between 5 and 10 a.m. or 9 p.m. and midnight.

Can I water my foundation any day in San Antonio?

Under Stage 2, yes with a hand-held hose, which SAWS allows any time on any day.

What is my SAWS watering day?

It depends on the last digit of your address: 0 or 1 Monday, 2 or 3 Tuesday, 4 or 5 Wednesday, 6 or 7 Thursday, 8 or 9 Friday.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-14.