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Pool Era field notes · Care and ownership

Pool Water During Hill Country Drought Rules

Watching the aquifer drop and wondering if you can still fill or top off your pool? The answer depends on who supplies your water and what stage they are in this week.

Here is how the stages work, and how to keep your pool full without wasting water.

By the Pool Era teamUpdated October 25, 2026Sources due for re-check November 2026How we research and fact-check

Who sets the rules

Your water provider sets the stage.

Much of our area draws on the Edwards Aquifer. The Edwards Aquifer Authority tells residents to contact their water provider to find out whether stage restrictions have been declared.[1] City utilities, water companies and groundwater districts each set their own rules.

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) ties its stages to the 10-day average level of the Edwards Aquifer at a monitored well. Stage 1 starts at 660 feet above sea level, Stage 2 at 650 and Stage 3 at 640. Stage 4 is declared by the City Manager.[2]

New Braunfels Utilities uses the same aquifer well or the flow at Comal Springs. Its Stage 2 was in effect from August 10, 2026.[3] Stages change often, so check your provider's page the week you plan to fill.

Filling and topping off

What the stages mean for a pool.

Most stage rules focus on lawn watering. SAWS Stage 3, for example, limits sprinklers to once a week and still allows a hand-held hose any time.[4] Rules for filling an empty pool can be different, and they vary by provider. Read the current rules, or call, before you drain.

Big fills can also cost more. In SAWS Stage 3, single-family homes pay a surcharge on water use above 20,000 gallons a month. In Stage 4 that limit drops to 12,000 gallons.[2]

Saving water

Keep the water you have.

Cover the pool when it is not in use. A cover cuts evaporation on hot, windy days.
Check for leaks. Set a bucket of water on the top step, mark both water levels, and compare after a day with the pump on its normal schedule. If the pool drops faster than the bucket, call for a leak check.
Check the auto-fill. A stuck valve can run all day without anyone noticing.
Backwash only when the filter needs it. Each backwash sends water down the drain.
Don't drain unless you have to. Most water problems can be fixed without a full drain.

Planning a replaster

Time refinishing with the aquifer.

A replaster needs a full refill right after the plaster goes on. The National Plasterers Council says to fill without stopping, as fast as you can.[5] So check your stage before you book. If a deeper stage is coming, it may be worth moving the job up or waiting for rain.

We can talk through a refinishing date with your provider's rules in mind.

Plan your refinish

More field notes

Sources

Where these facts come from

Sources checked October 25, 2026. Rules, fees and water stages change; check the source before you rely on a number.

Who wrote this

Pool Era team. Pool Era builds, refinishes and cares for pools in the Texas Hill Country, and the founder supervises the work on site. We write field notes from public agency, trade group and maker sources, cited on the page, plus what we see on local jobs.

Sources checked October 25, 2026. Next scheduled check: November 2026. Spot an error? Tell us and we can check it against the source. Our editorial standards

Before you rely on this. This field note is general information, not professional, engineering or legal advice. Every pool and every site is different. What Pool Era does on your project, how and with what warranty, is only what your written agreement says. Local codes and HOA rules change, so check with your city, county or HOA before you rely on anything here. Website terms

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