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WateringTimes

Alameda County Water District (ACWD)

Fremont Watering Schedule

No set daysRules verified August 27, 2026

Any day, any hour. These rules apply year-round

  • No assigned days: Ordinance No. 2008-01 has no odd/even address rule and no cap on watering days per week.
  • No mandatory hours, no per-station run time limits and no minute caps by nozzle type.
  • Irrigation that causes excessive flooding or runoff into gutters, waterways, patios, driveways, walks or streets is prohibited.
  • All customers must repair leaks as soon as practicable.
  • Advisory only, not enforced: no more than three days per week, and water in the early morning before the sun is overhead.
  • Stage 0: Normal Years under the 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan adopted June 11, 2026. No shortage emergency is declared.

Fremont has no assigned watering days and no watering hours. Alameda County Water District (ACWD), which serves Fremont, Newark and Union City, is at Stage 0: Normal Years under its 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, adopted by the Board on June 11, 2026, so no Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance is in force. The one standing rule is Ordinance No. 2008-01, Prohibiting Wasteful Use of Water, effective June 6, 2008, which bans wasteful conduct and assigns no days, no hours and no run time limits. ACWD's tip pages do say to water landscaping no more than three days per week, but that sentence is advisory guidance, not an enforced cap, and its own wording defers a real day limit to a shortage ordinance that is not adopted right now. Anything showing assigned weekdays or a two or three day cap for Fremont is stale drought-era material from the 2021 to 2023 Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance, which has ended.

How many minutes on each watering day

Alameda County Water District (ACWD) assigns no watering days, so nobody can tell you how many days to split the week across. Set the days you actually water and this works out the minutes from Fremont's climate for the month you pick.

Climate data

Fremont · 43.2 in/yr

About 30 minutes per watering day, 2 days a week.

How that was worked out

Week's climate demand: 6.1 in for July × 7 ÷ 31 days = 1.377 in

Plants need: 1.377 × 0.8 = 1.102 in this week

Run time: 1.102 ÷ (1.6 in/hr × 0.7) × 60 = 59 min per week

Split: 59 ÷ 2 watering days = 30 min each time

If water runs off the edges before the cycle ends, split each day into shorter back-to-back cycles with a soak break between them. The total minutes stay the same.

Rain is not subtracted here. Skip watering during and after rain, and follow your supplier's rain rule. Point-source drip emitters and Bubblers are not in the list above: no manufacturer publishes an inches-per-hour rate for them, so those zones are watered by volume rather than by a run time against a rate.

Want the full method, the nozzle rate tables and their sources? Open the run time calculator.

Current status

Stage 0: Normal Years under ACWD's 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, adopted by the Board on June 11, 2026. No Water Shortage Emergency is declared and no Water Shortage Emergency (WSE) Ordinance is in force. The only standing rule is Ordinance No. 2008-01, Prohibiting Wasteful Use of Water, effective June 6, 2008, which bans waste conduct and assigns no watering days.

The schedule

Year-round (single period; ACWD publishes no seasonal watering schedule)

No date ranges are printed by ACWD. Ordinance No. 2008-01 states only that it 'shall become effective and be enforced as of June 6, 2008' and it applies continuously with no seasonal start or end.

Days: No mandatory days rule of any kind. Ordinance No. 2008-01 contains no odd/even address rule, no assigned weekdays, and no cap on watering days per week. The only figure ACWD prints is advisory. Its Outdoor Water Saving Tips page states: 'Water landscaping no more than three days per week, if a water shortage emergency ordinance is in effect it may specify less days per week.' Its Water Saving Tips page states separately: 'Water your landscaping no more than three days per week in the summer.' Neither is enforceable. That sentence is a tip, not an enforced limit, and its own wording defers a real day limit to a shortage ordinance that is not currently adopted.

Hours: No mandatory hours. Advisory only: 'Water in the early morning before the sun is overhead' (Outdoor Water Saving Tips), and in the conservation FAQ ACWD recommends irrigating before 10:00 a.m. to reduce evaporation. ACWD also recommends the cycle and soak method, running sprinklers for shorter intervals 2 to 3 times instead of one long run.

Run-time limits: None. ACWD publishes no per-station run time limits and no minute caps by nozzle type (spray, rotor, rotating nozzle, or drip). A drought-era ACWD handout on programming smart controllers to match ordinance restrictions is no longer on the site and now returns HTTP 404, consistent with the restrictions having ended.

Exceptions and standing rules

  • No watering-day exceptions exist, because ACWD assigns no watering days at present. The exception process below applies to the waste prohibitions in Ordinance No. 2008-01.
  • Written applications for exceptions are accepted and may be granted by ACWD's Manager of Customer Service or a designee (Ordinance No. 2008-01, Section B.1).
  • Denial of an application can be appealed in writing to the General Manager (Section B.2).
  • Grounds for an exception: failure to grant it would cause an unnecessary and undue hardship to the applicant, including but not limited to adverse economic impacts such as loss of production or jobs (Section B.3.a).
  • Grounds for an exception: failure to grant it would cause a condition affecting the health, sanitation, fire protection or safety of the applicant or the public (Section B.3.b).
  • Hand watering, drip irrigation, new plantings, edible gardens, potted plants, hot-weather allowances and smart controller allowances are NOT listed as exceptions on any current ACWD page, because there is no day or hour restriction for them to be carved out of. The exemption lists that still circulate for ACWD (drip and subsurface systems, trees on a dedicated valve, hand-held bucket, hose with a shut-off nozzle to establish drought tolerant plantings) belong to the 2021 to 2023 Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance, which is no longer in force.
  • Separate state law, Assembly Bill 1572, bans irrigating nonfunctional turf with potable water. ACWD's page dates it January 1, 2027 for state property, local government and public water systems; January 1, 2028 for commercial, industrial and institutional properties; January 1, 2029 for HOA common areas and similar developments; and January 1, 2031 for local government managed properties in disadvantaged communities. ACWD lists single-family and multi-family residential as No Impact.

Fines and enforcement

  1. ACWD sets no flat dollar fine for water waste. Ordinance No. 2008-01 Section C uses a warning, charge and shut-off escalation instead.
  2. Step 1: ACWD sends a written warning identifying the wasteful use, asking the customer to stop it, explaining how to apply for an exception, and stating that failure to correct the problem can result in termination of service.
  3. Step 2: after the written warning, if no exception is requested, ACWD may make a follow-up visit. If waste is still observed and no exception was granted, ACWD issues a second written warning by on-site notification and charges the customer the field service visit charge from the District's Rate and Fee Schedule.
  4. Field service visit charge: $50.00. Current Schedule of Rates and Fees, Section 3.B Field Charge (FC): 'A Field Charge of $50.00 is hereby fixed for any customer requesting service or requiring on-site notification at any location that requires a field service visit.' Rates effective March 1, 2026. The 2008 ordinance text cites Section 3A for this charge; the lettering in the current schedule has shifted to 3.B.
  5. Step 3: if ACWD staff observe excessive water use in violation more than 48 hours after the on-site notification, the General Manager may authorize termination of water service.
  6. Step 4 reconnection charges, current Schedule of Rates and Fees Section 3.F (cited as Section 3E in the 2008 ordinance): $50.00 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; $150.00 after 4:00 p.m. weekdays, weekends and holidays; $115.00 for replacement of a pulled meter and turn-on. Section 3.F states these apply to service terminated for nonpayment or for willful violations of the mandatory restrictions on water use set forth in District Ordinances.
  7. Service is not restored until the customer has stopped the wasteful use and paid all charges owed under the ordinance.

Report water waste: Call ACWD Customer Service at (510) 668-4200 during business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or submit the online Water Waste Reporting Form at https://www.acwd.org/FormCenter/Water-Conservation-11/Water-Waste-Reporting-Form-72 . The form states it 'helps ACWD identify water waste and water use restrictions occurring in our service area,' asks for the address and city (Fremont, Newark or Union City only), a description and up to two photos, and lists report categories for washing sidewalks and driveways with excessive runoff, irrigation runoff, a hose without a quick-acting positive shutoff nozzle, non-recycling decorative fountains at non-residential properties, washing vehicles with excessive runoff, unrepaired leaks or plumbing breaks, and other. ACWD's Report page also offers a general concern tracker at https://www.acwd.org/RequestTracker.aspx?CID=4 . Conservation questions go to the Water Use Efficiency team at (510) 668-4218.

Is this your water supplier?

The district name misleads: despite "Alameda County" in the title, ACWD covers only Fremont, Newark and Union City (about 104.8 square miles), so neighbors on different rules include the City of Hayward Water System to the north, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) for the City of Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Castro Valley and most of the rest of the county, the City of Milpitas and San Jose Water under Valley Water to the south in Santa Clara County, and Zone 7 Water Agency retailers (City of Pleasanton, City of Livermore, California Water Service Livermore, Dublin San Ramon Services District) over the hills in the Tri-Valley.

Questions people ask

What days can I water in Fremont?
Any day. ACWD assigns no watering days: Ordinance No. 2008-01 contains no odd/even address rule, no assigned weekdays and no cap on watering days per week. The only day figure ACWD prints sits on its conservation tip pages and is advisory, so nothing on the calendar is enforced right now.
What hours can my sprinklers run?
There are no mandatory hours. ACWD's timing guidance is advisory only: 'Water in the early morning before the sun is overhead,' and its conservation FAQ recommends irrigating before 10:00 a.m. to reduce evaporation. ACWD also recommends the cycle and soak method, running sprinklers for shorter intervals 2 to 3 times instead of one long run. It publishes no per-station run time limits and no minute caps by nozzle type, whether spray, rotor, rotating nozzle or drip.
I read that Fremont allows three days a week. Is that a rule?
No, it is a tip. ACWD's Outdoor Water Saving Tips page says 'Water landscaping no more than three days per week, if a water shortage emergency ordinance is in effect it may specify less days per week,' and its Water Saving Tips page separately says 'Water your landscaping no more than three days per week in the summer.' Neither sentence is enforceable, and the first one defers a real day limit to a water shortage emergency ordinance that is not currently adopted.
What is actually banned year-round in Fremont?
Ordinance No. 2008-01 targets waste, not the day of the week. Irrigation that causes excessive flooding or runoff into gutters, waterways, patios, driveways, walks or streets is prohibited for residential and nonresidential customers, and all customers must repair leaks as soon as practicable. Nonresidential customers also face bans on single pass cooling in new connections, non-recirculating conveyor car wash and commercial laundry systems, and non-recycling decorative fountains. The ordinance words the hose item softly for residents, saying hoses should be equipped with shutoff nozzles, so treat that one as guidance rather than a hard ban.
What is exempt, and can I ask for an exception?
There are no watering-day exceptions, because ACWD assigns no watering days at present. Drip irrigation, hand watering, new plantings, edible gardens and potted plants are simply unrestricted here; the exemption lists that still circulate for ACWD belong to the 2021 to 2023 Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance, which is no longer in force. For the waste prohibitions, written applications for exceptions are accepted and can be granted by ACWD's Manager of Customer Service or a designee under Section B.1, and a denial can be appealed in writing to the General Manager under Section B.2. The grounds are an unnecessary and undue hardship, including adverse economic impacts such as loss of production or jobs, or a condition affecting the health, sanitation, fire protection or safety of the applicant or the public.
What is the fine for wasting water in Fremont?
ACWD sets no flat dollar fine. Section C of Ordinance No. 2008-01 escalates instead: first a written warning that identifies the wasteful use, asks the customer to stop it, explains how to apply for an exception and states that failure to correct the problem can result in termination of service. If waste is still observed on a follow-up visit and no exception was granted, ACWD issues a second written warning by on-site notification and charges the $50.00 field service visit charge from Section 3.B of the Schedule of Rates and Fees, with rates effective March 1, 2026. If staff observe excessive water use in violation more than 48 hours after the on-site notification, the General Manager can authorize termination of water service. Reconnection under Section 3.F runs $50.00 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., $150.00 after 4:00 p.m. weekdays, weekends and holidays, or $115.00 for replacement of a pulled meter and turn-on, and service is not restored until the wasteful use has stopped and all charges owed under the ordinance are paid.
Could assigned watering days come back?
Only after a public process. ACWD's 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, adopted by the Board on June 11, 2026, places the district at Stage 0: Normal Years, and day-per-week irrigation limits are a Stage 2 tool. Reaching Stage 2 (Mandatory) Moderate Shortage up to 20% takes a Board declaration of a Water Shortage Emergency plus adoption of a Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance, so expect a public announcement before any day rule returns.
My address is in Fremont but is ACWD my water supplier?
Check the supplier named on your water bill. The district name misleads: despite 'Alameda County' in the title, ACWD covers only Fremont, Newark and Union City, about 104.8 square miles. Neighbors on different rules include the City of Hayward Water System to the north, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) for the City of Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Castro Valley and most of the rest of the county, the City of Milpitas and San Jose Water under Valley Water to the south in Santa Clara County, and Zone 7 Water Agency retailers over the hills in the Tri-Valley, including the City of Pleasanton, the City of Livermore, California Water Service Livermore and Dublin San Ramon Services District.
How do I report water waste in Fremont?
Call ACWD Customer Service at (510) 668-4200 during business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or submit the online Water Waste Reporting Form at acwd.org. The form asks for the address and city, limited to Fremont, Newark or Union City, a description and up to two photos, and its categories cover washing sidewalks and driveways with excessive runoff, irrigation runoff, a hose without a quick-acting positive shutoff nozzle, non-recycling decorative fountains at non-residential properties, washing vehicles with excessive runoff, unrepaired leaks or plumbing breaks, and other. ACWD's Report page also offers a general concern tracker, and conservation questions go to the Water Use Efficiency team at (510) 668-4218.

Sources

WateringTimes is an informational gardening and landscape reference for California. Watering numbers are estimates computed from public state data. Nothing on this site is regulatory or professional advice of any kind. Check your water supplier’s current rules before relying on any schedule.