Carson City’s summer watering restrictions go into effect today.
Lawns can be watered three days a week. Addresses ending in odd numbers can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays while properties with even-numbered addresses can water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and no watering at all on Monday is allowed.
Hand-watering of vegetables, shrubs and flowers is allowed.
The restrictions are in effect until September 30.
The city doesn’t plan to ask residents to voluntarily conserve water this summer. Last year, the city suggested people cut back water consumption by 10 percent.
“We’re still in a drought but we’re in better shape,” said Rit Palmer, water operations supervisor.
Still, the city suggests not to water if the lawn doesn’t need it and to not water in windy conditions.
Palmer said the city’s year-round water watch program monitors sprinklers watering sidewalks and other water wasting.
“We tend to look more in the summer,” he said.
During the summer, water usage in the city jumps to as high as 24 million gallons a day, from the winter average of five to six million gallons daily, because of outside watering.
The city’s water supply comes from both three groundwater basins and surface water from Kings and Ash Canyon creeks and Hobart Reservoir and Marlette Lake.. In dry years, the mix is about 68 percent groundwater and 32 percent surface, and in wet years that flips, to two-thirds surface water and one-third groundwater.
Exemptions from the summer watering restrictions include Carson City licensed commercial gardeners or commercial caretakers who are on the premises at the time watering is taking place; new lawns, for 21 days from planting or installation; vegetable gardens; and complexes that file for and receive approval of an irrigation plan.
Other exemptions may be requested and must be approved. For more information, call 887-2355 ext. 7397.
