WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Mandatory hours, no set daysVerified Schedule for October 2026

Eastern Municipal (EMWD) watering schedule 2026

Eastern Municipal Water District sets no watering days: water any day, but never 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Today

Rules from: Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) (official schedule )

Eastern Municipal (EMWD) watering days by season

Year-round

Any day
  1. MON
  2. TUE
  3. WED
  4. THU
  5. FRI
  6. SAT
  7. SUN

No set daysTodayEarlier this week

No sprinklers between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on any day.

DaysWater only between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. No landscape irrigation from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Administrative Code 5.601(a)(3)).
RulesAn unattended sprinkler station may run at most 15 minutes a day. Low-flow drip, weather-based controllers and efficient stream rotors can run longer (5.601(a)(4)).
RulesNo watering during rain. EMWD's requirements page adds: not within 48 hours after measurable rain.
RulesExempt from the hours: hand watering, a new landscape while it establishes, freezing forecasts and short runs to adjust or repair the system.
RulesStage 1, Supply Watch, since April 19, 2023: a voluntary 10 percent cut and no assigned days.
How the rule works

Eastern Municipal Water District does not assign watering days. Its permanent rules, in Administrative Code Section 5.601, allow landscape irrigation only between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. on any day and cap an unattended sprinkler station at 15 minutes a day. Watering during rain is prohibited, and EMWD's requirements page extends that to 48 hours after measurable rain. Hand watering, a new landscape while it establishes, freezing forecasts and short irrigation repairs are exempt from the hours. EMWD has been in Stage 1, Supply Watch, since April 19, 2023, which asks for a voluntary 10 percent cut and adds no day limits.

An open envelope with a page of watering days, one day circled in red
Change alerts

Rules change. Get the new Eastern Municipal (EMWD) days and hours by email.

  • We watch the published Eastern Municipal (EMWD) rules for you.
  • When they change, one email with the new rule and the date it starts.
  • Nothing else: a confirmation now, then only emails about these rules.

How many minutes to run sprinklers on each water day

One zone at a time, from the state climate table for Perris and the month you pick. The plan does every zone for every month.

1 What do you water in this zone?
2 What waters this zone?
3 Which month?
October
3 days a week
4 Nozzle brand or soil

Which sprinkler do you have?

Why rain covers it

October asks this zone for about 41 minutes of sprinkler time a week, from the state climate table for Perris. That is less than one run, so the sheet shows none.

Established plantings live on the season's rain. New plantings still want a hand watering in a dry week.

14minper watering day3 days a week in October
Per week
41 min
Zone
Lawn
System
Spray heads, 1.6 in/hr
Every zone, every month, one sheet. The plan prints this for up to four zones, every month, with Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)'s hours.Get the plan for $19

Eastern Municipal (EMWD) rules and fines

Current stage Stage 1, Supply Watch, of EMWD's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Administrative Code Title 5, Article 10). EMWD announced the move to Stage 1 on April 19, 2023, after Stage 3a since November 2021. Stage 1 asks for a voluntary 10 percent reduction in water use. The permanent requirements of Section 5.601 stay in force at every stage, and Stage 1 adds no watering days.

The exceptions include drip irrigation, hand watering, new plantings, smart controllers, fixing or testing sprinklers and freezing weather, each with its own conditions. A written exception can also be requested. The full text is below.

First: a written notice. Then a final written notice, then $25, $50 and $100 within twelve months, for a single-family home.

Full text of the rules

Exceptions to the Eastern Municipal (EMWD) rules

  • The 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. hours do not apply to manual watering, the establishment period of a new landscape, times when temperatures are predicted to fall below freezing, or very short periods to adjust or repair an irrigation system (5.601(a)(3)).
  • The 15-minute cap can be extended for very low flow drip systems where no emitter produces more than two gallons per hour, and for weather based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that meet a 70 percent efficiency. Runoff or overwatering is not permitted in any case (5.601(a)(4)).
  • Rain: Section 5.601(a)(10) prohibits watering during rain. EMWD's requirements page states the rule as watering during rain, or within 48 hours after measurable rain, is prohibited; this page follows the page wording.
  • No watering that causes excessive water flow or runoff onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch (5.601(a)(6)).
  • Hosing down driveways and other hard surfaces is prohibited except for health or sanitary reasons, and then only with a bucket, a handheld hose with a positive self-closing shut-off device, or a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine that recycles the water (5.601(a)(1)).
  • Repair leaks within 48 hours of occurrence (5.601(a)(2); requirements page).
  • Decorative fountains need a recycling system, and water may not run while washing a vehicle: use a bucket or a handheld hose with a self-closing shut-off device (5.601(a)(7) and (8)).
  • Potable water may not irrigate non-functional turf at commercial, industrial and institutional sites (5.601(a)(11)).
  • A customer who requests a special variance, or who disagrees with a penalty, can file a written request with the General Manager for an appeal hearing (5.601(f)).

Eastern Municipal (EMWD) fines

  1. 1Single-family homes, first violation: the District issues a written notice of the violation (Administrative Code 5.601(c)(2)a).
  2. 2Second violation within twelve months of the first notice: a final written notice (5.601(c)(2)b).
  3. 3Third violation within twelve months: a $25 surcharge added to the water bill (5.601(c)(2)c).
  4. 4Fourth violation within twelve months: a $50 surcharge (5.601(c)(2)d).
  5. 5Fifth and each later violation within twelve months: a $100 surcharge (5.601(c)(2)e).
  6. 6Multi-family, commercial, institutional, industrial, agricultural and landscape accounts follow the same notice steps, then $100, $200 and $300 surcharges (5.601(c)(1)).
  7. 7Penalties can be appealed in writing to the General Manager, whose decision can be taken to the Board of Directors (5.601(f)).

Report water waste

EMWD's online Water Waste Form, or call EMWD's Conservation department at 951-928-3777, ext. 3306 (Report Water Waste page). Give the location, the type of waste and a description; a photo is optional.

Here a penalty starts at $25, after a written notice and a final written notice, for a single-family home. The personal watering plan prints the minutes for every zone, every month, with the hours, for $19 once. See the plan

Eastern Municipal (EMWD) watering questions

Does EMWD assign watering days by address?

No. EMWD's permanent rules in Administrative Code Section 5.601 set no watering days and no even or odd split. They limit the clock instead: landscape irrigation only between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., on any day of the week.

How long can a sprinkler station run on an EMWD account?

A system that is not continuously attended is limited to 15 minutes of watering per station per day (5.601(a)(4)). The cap can be extended for very low flow drip with no emitter above two gallons per hour, and for weather based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that meet a 70 percent efficiency. Runoff is not permitted in any case.

When can EMWD customers water during the day?

Only in the cases Section 5.601(a)(3) lists: manual watering, the establishment period of a new landscape, times when temperatures are predicted to fall below freezing, and very short periods to adjust or repair an irrigation system. All other irrigation runs between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

How long after rain must EMWD customers wait to water?

The Administrative Code, Section 5.601(a)(10), prohibits watering during rain. EMWD's Water Use Efficiency Requirements page states the rule more strictly: watering during rain, or within 48 hours after measurable rain, is prohibited. This page follows the stricter page wording.

What are the EMWD penalties for breaking the watering rules?

For a single-family home, a written notice comes first and a final written notice second. A third violation within twelve months adds a $25 surcharge to the water bill, a fourth $50, and a fifth or later $100 (5.601(c)(2)). Multi-family, commercial and landscape accounts pay $100, $200 and $300 after the same two notices. Penalties can be appealed in writing to the General Manager (5.601(f)).

What does Stage 1 mean for EMWD customers?

EMWD moved into Stage 1, Supply Watch, of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan on April 19, 2023, after Stage 3a since November 2021. Stage 1 asks for a voluntary 10 percent reduction. The permanent hour, minute and rain rules stay in force, and Stage 1 assigns no watering days.

Is my home an EMWD customer?

EMWD's Who We Are page lists retail customers within Canyon Lake, Hemet, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris, San Jacinto and Temecula and in unincorporated communities such as French Valley, Homeland, Mead Valley, Nuevo, Romoland and Winchester. EMWD also sells water wholesale to the cities of Hemet and San Jacinto, Lake Hemet Municipal Water District, Rancho California Water District and Western Municipal Water District, whose customers follow their own rules. Check the name on the water bill.

Where do I report water waste in EMWD's service area?

Use EMWD's online Water Waste Form or call its Conservation department at 951-928-3777, ext. 3306. The Report Water Waste page asks for the location, the type of waste and a description; a photo is optional.

Sources and verification

Rules checked October 2026. The schedule is watched for changes and updated when the supplier changes it.

Water supplier: Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) (official schedule )

All 8 sources

Nearby water suppliers

RiversideRiverside Public UtilitiesNo set days; 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. is advice, waste bans enforcedCity water
Rancho Water (Temecula)Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water)No assigned days; irrigate only 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.; none within 48 hours after rainWater district
CoronaCity of Corona Utilities DepartmentMandatory: 3 days/week by address, year-round; no watering on FridaysCity water
San BernardinoSan Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD)Mandatory: 3 days/week year-round: Monday, Wednesday and FridayCity water
Fontana Water CompanyFontana Water Company (San Gabriel Valley Water Company)No assigned days or hours; Rule 14.1 waste bans apply all yearPrivate utility
Santa Margarita (SMWD)Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD)Any day, only 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.; no assigned daysWater district

The name on the water bill decides which rules apply.