Santa Clarita (SCV Water) watering schedule 2026

No. SCV Water sets no watering days, no even or odd address split and no watering hours. Assigned days, run-time caps and watering times exist only in Stages 2 to 5 of Ordinance No. 02, and SCV Water has deactivated that ordinance and its Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Drought Ready SCV page).

Not according to SCV Water. Its Drought Ready SCV, Current Conditions and Report Water Waste pages list watering outdoors during and within 48 hours following measurable rainfall as prohibited, and its waste report form uses a minimum of 1/8 inch. SCV Water presents it as a State rule, but the State Water Board says its Emergency Regulation to Prohibit Wasteful Water Uses expired on December 21, 2023. Ordinance No. 02, Section 4(e), discourages irrigating within 48 hours after a quarter inch or more while no stage is declared. This page follows SCV Water's stricter page wording.

SCV Water's Drought Ready SCV page says that with the ordinance deactivated it will not issue fines or penalties, and that it notifies customers when water waste is verified. It reserves the right to act on egregious and uncorrected cases through its Customer Service Policy. That policy, effective August 4, 2026, lists a Water Waste Penalty Fee of $50.00 a day, plus $50.00 a day for each later violation, up to $500.00 (Appendix A-12), and allows a temporary water shutoff for serious or negligent water waste (Section 11.3.3).

None is declared. SCV Water says it has deactivated its Water Shortage Contingency Plan and ordinance and returned to normal water conservation conditions, and its September 2023 fact sheet, still posted as current, says SCV Water is in a No Shortage Stage. The Board adopted a new 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan on June 9, 2026. SCV Water's pages name no stage declared under it, and the plan says specific water waste activities would be prohibited once a stage is declared.

Under Ordinance No. 02, Stage 1 turns the discouraged waste actions in Section 4 into prohibitions. Stage 2 adds assigned watering days by address, no watering on Saturdays, two 5-minute cycles per station and set watering times. Stage 3 drops to two days a week from November through March, Stage 4 to two days all year and Stage 5 to one day, and Stage 6 bans potable landscape irrigation. Fines then start at $50 for a second violation within 12 months (Section 12.1). None of this is in force today.

The Irrigation Help page recommends, but does not require, watering between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., when winds are low and less water evaporates. It suggests no more than every other day in summer, no more than 3 times a week in spring and fall, and no more than once a week in winter. Because the valley's clay soils run off after about five minutes of lawn watering, it recommends short cycle and soak runs.

SCV Water's Newhall, Santa Clarita and Valencia water divisions serve the City of Santa Clarita and the communities of Valencia, Saugus, Newhall, Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch and Castaic (History of SCV Water page). Homes in Val Verde and Hasley Canyon are served by Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 36, which buys supplemental water from SCV Water and follows its own rules. Check the name on the water bill.

Use the Report Water Waste form on SCV Water's website. Complete reports must include the date, time, specific water waste activity and pictures; SCV Water only processes complete reports. For questions, email conservation@scvwa.org or call 661-513-1244. Report a major leak or break 24/7 at 661-294-0828.