If you are on City of Savannah water, you may water your lawn three days a week: even-numbered addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Nobody waters on Friday, and no one may run outdoor irrigation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any day. The rule applies year-round, not only in a drought, according to the City of Savannah's Outdoor Watering Schedule. New sod, drip lines and hand watering have exemptions under state law, covered below.
The Savannah watering schedule at a glance
| Your address | Watering days | Allowed hours |
|---|---|---|
| Even number (ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. |
| Odd number (ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) | Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday | 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. |
| Everyone | No watering on Friday | Never 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
Questions about your account or the schedule go to Savannah Water Resources at 912-651-2221.
Why Savannah's rules are stricter than the rest of Georgia
Most of Georgia only has to follow the statewide hours. Savannah adds the day-of-week schedule because of the aquifer under the city. The City explains that saltwater intrusion into the Floridan Aquifer led the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to name Savannah and Chatham County a "Red Zone" in 2006, and the watering schedule is written into Savannah's drinking-water permit. Cutting midday and Friday watering reduces how hard the region pumps that aquifer during the hottest part of the year.
The statewide rule: 4 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Under the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010, anyone on an EPD-permitted water system may water outdoor plants only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., according to Georgia EPD's outdoor watering page. Savannah's schedule sits on top of that window: you need both the right day and the right hours.
Exemptions: when you can water any day, any time
State law lists activities that are exempt from the hour limits. The ones Savannah homeowners use most:
- New or replanted turf and plants, during installation and for 30 days after. This is the big one if you are putting in new sod or seed.
- Drip irrigation or soaker hoses in beds.
- Hand watering with a hose that has an automatic shutoff nozzle, or with a watering can or other handheld container.
- Personal food gardens.
- Private wells or surface water on your own property.
- Installing, maintaining or calibrating an irrigation system, so a technician can run zones to test them.
- Hydroseeding, and water from reclaimed, gray-water, condensate or stormwater reuse systems.
EPD's page also exempts commercial agriculture, nursery crops, athletic fields, golf courses and public turf. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, call your water provider before you water outside the schedule.
Does the schedule apply outside the city limits?
It depends on who sends you a water bill:
- Unincorporated Chatham County water customers follow the same pattern: odd addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; even and unnumbered addresses Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; no Fridays; nothing between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Chatham County Public Works, 912-652-6840).
- Tybee Island publishes the same three-day schedule and calls it permanent and year-round (City of Tybee Island). Bloomingdale and Port Wentworth list the same odd/even, no-Friday pattern on their water pages.
- Pooler and Richmond Hill: the statewide 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. window applies at a minimum. For any day-of-week rule, check with your water provider.
Drought status in 2026
As of our last check, EPD declared a statewide Drought Response Level 1 on April 27, 2026 (EPD drought page). Level 1 calls for public-information efforts only, so the watering window did not change. Drought levels can move, so check epd.georgia.gov for the current level before a dry stretch.
How much to water on your allowed days
Three days a week is more than most established lawns need. University of Georgia Extension guidance for centipede, the most common coastal lawn, is about 1 inch of water a week from rain and irrigation combined, applied so it wets the soil 5 to 7 inches deep, ideally early in the morning (UGA Circular 1003; UGA Extension). In practice that means:
- Water deeply once or twice a week before 10 a.m. on your days, instead of a short cycle every allowed day.
- Count the rain. NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport show 48.12 inches a year, with June (6.65 in.), July (5.75) and August (5.46) the wettest months (NOAA normals). In a wet summer week the sprinklers can often stay off.
- Watch the dry months. November averages only 2.39 inches, the driest month, so a lawn heading into dormancy may still need an occasional soak.
- Add a rain sensor and use drip, micro-spray or bubblers in beds. The City recommends both.
Overwatering is a real problem here, not only a waste. Many Chatham County soils are poorly drained, and extra water feeds weeds like dollarweed and fungus such as large patch. If your grass type is still undecided, our guide to the best grass for Savannah lawns covers how much water each one wants.
Setting an irrigation controller for the Savannah schedule
Most controllers let you pick specific days. Set the days for your address, set start times early enough that every zone finishes before 10 a.m., and turn off any Friday program. If zones overlap into the restricted hours, an irrigation tech can shorten run times, swap nozzles or split cycles so water soaks in instead of running off. Local companies that offer irrigation repair in Savannah can also fix broken heads, leaks and controllers that drift off schedule.
Adding or reworking a system? Connecting an irrigation system to your water line can require a permit, a backflow preventer and a licensed plumber or utility contractor; ask who will make the connection and whether your water provider requires a permit (Savannah Water Resources: 912-651-2221). This is general information, not legal advice.
New sod: using the 30-day exemption
Fresh sod needs frequent, light watering until it roots, and the state exemption allows that on any day, at any hour, for 30 days after installation. After that, switch the controller to your normal three-day schedule and move toward deeper, less frequent watering. If you are planning a new lawn, the sod installation page explains what to ask installers, and our landscaping prices page lists typical ranges (typical ranges from published cost guides (2026) — estimates, not quotes), such as about $1–$3 per sq ft for installed sod.
Get help with your sprinklers
We connect Savannah-area homeowners with independent local lawn care, landscaping and tree companies for free, no-obligation quotes. The company you choose quotes, contracts and does the work directly with you. If you want a controller set up for Savannah's days, a system checked for leaks, or regular lawn mowing that keeps grass at a height that handles summer heat, request a free quote and compare what local companies offer.