Alice bans routine lawn watering under Stage 3 restrictions

City of Alice officials updated their Stage 3 drought policy on Jan. 11, prohibiting routine lawn irrigation for most customers as the community continues to contend with low water levels at Lake Corpus Christi. Under the revised rules, residents may still water edible gardens or fruit-bearing trees using a hand-held hose, a bucket, or a watering can of five gallons or less, but standard lawn watering is off limits unless the property is served by turf-specific water systems or a private well.

The change reflects growing pressure on the city’s primary surface supply. City Manager Michael Esparza said the update stems from sustained low reservoir levels, and officials expect the brackish desalination plant now slated to come online will change how the city defines and manages drought stages once it receives full approvals. For now, the updated Stage 3 restrictions are the active policy affecting homeowners, landscapers, and irrigation services across Jim Wells County.

City code enforcement will continue monitoring compliance; at the time of reporting no citations had been issued. Neighborhood reaction has been mixed, with residents expressing concern about brown lawns and the added cost or logistics of shifting to hand watering. Some homeowners are already prioritizing vegetable plots and fruit trees in response to the allowance for edible plants, while turf-dependent properties served by approved systems or private wells remain able to continue irrigation under the ordinance.

Local landscape and lawn-care businesses will likely need to adjust schedules and services to match the new rules, particularly for customers whose systems are not classified as turf-specific. For homeowners, the restriction changes daily maintenance routines and could accelerate longer-term choices about yard design, such as moving to native or drought-tolerant plantings that reduce reliance on irrigation.

The desalination plant, described by city leaders as brackish treatment, figures into the longer-term water strategy. Once fully approved and operational, it is expected to broaden the city’s supply options and alter drought contingency plans. Until then, conservation remains the principal tool available to keep taps running for households and essential services.

The takeaway? Start shifting priorities now: focus watering on food-producing plants by hand, check whether your irrigation qualifies as turf-specific, and prepare for a season of leaner lawns. Our two cents? Treat this as an opportunity to rethink yard habits and plant choices so Alice stays resilient when the next dry spell comes around.