Enforcement to begin on Carson City water wasters

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Carson City residents who water their gutters and sidewalks while irrigating their lawns better watch out.

Beginning Thursday, ''water educators'' employed by the city's utility district will be making the rounds, looking for water wasters.

The city's yearly water-use restrictions are in effect June 1 until Oct. 1.

''I would say most of the people are very supportive and comply with it,'' said Tom Hoffert, Carson City's utility operations manager, said of the water conservation law.

''Some years there are a very few people, 2 to 5 percent, we have problems with and we have to take enforcement actions.''

Enforcement usually consists of a verbal warning for a first offense, a written warning on the second offense and then a misdemeanor citation.

The utility hires five or six people to patrol the area 24 hours a day during the summer and make sure residents and business owners are complying with the restrictions.

Odd-numbered addresses are allowed to water lawns on odd days of a month. Even-numbered addresses water on even days.

Watering is prohibited on the 31st of any month and daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.