The City of Celina officially activated Stage 2 of its Water Conservation Plan on July 2, 2026, imposing temporary limits on outdoor water usage for residents. The move aims to preserve water resources to support the community's growth during the summer season, according to a city news release.
Under the new rules, homeowners may water their lawns only one day per week, with the specific day determined by the last digit of their street address. Irrigation is banned between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the assigned day. Residents may use hand-held hoses, drip systems, or soaker hoses on landscaping or building foundations for a maximum of two hours each day.
The restrictions also prohibit water-based activities that result in waste, such as washing vehicles or operating lawn fountains. The city has paused the issuance of new swimming pool permits and barred the installation of new sod or plants. Exceptions for landscaping may be granted to new developments, but no further details on those qualifications were provided.
Stage 2 is the second-highest level in the city’s drought contingency plan, which includes three tiers. The plan dictates that these restrictions activate when water supply levels drop or demand nears capacity. The city release did not specify the exact trigger for this activation. Data from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District, which provides water to Celina, does not show a broader Stage 2 warning for the region.
The restrictions come as temperatures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have remained above normal. National Weather Service data indicates that daily high temperatures exceeded the 30-year average for 24 of the 30 days in June, with low temperatures also running warmer than usual for 26 days. This follows a period of significant heat despite 3.55 inches of rain falling on July 7, the heaviest rainfall for that date since 1989.