City Institutes Mandatory Watering Restrictions
Water is our most precious natural resource. To help conserve it and ensure adequate water is available for normal daily use and emergency situations, the City has adopted a new watering restriction program beginning in May 2008. The new restrictions will be similar in nature to those already in place in our neighboring cities and they emphasize conservation and stewardship of this valuable resource.
Hopkins draws its drinking water from the same groundwater aquifer as its neighboring cities. It is not uncommon for Hopkins' water demand to double, triple or more during the summer months due to lawn watering.
Specifically, the proposed restrictions will ban watering during the mid-day hours of 11 am to 5 pm and allow odd-even sprinkling at all other times. Watering is banned from 11 am to 5 pm to reduce water wasted through evaporation and to allow pumps to refill water storage tanks for evening peak use. The odd-even restriction means that homes with even-numbered addresses may water their lawns before 11 am or after 5 pm on even-numbered dates. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may water before 11 am or after 5 pm on odd-numbered dates.
No-cost permits will be available through the Public Works Department to allow proper watering of new sod or seeded areas. Residents may hand water flower beds, wash cars, etc. as long as the water use is not unattended. The restrictions do not apply to people using sources of water other than the City water system.
City employees will enforce the water restrictions when they see violations. Warning tickets will be issued but the new policy will allow for fines against repeat offenders.
Lawn watering is the single biggest residential use of water. You can have a green lawn and conserve water by following these guidelines:
- Keep grass at 3.5 inches in height to encourage deeper roots and retain more water
- Established lawns require only 1 - 1 1/2" of water every 7 to 10 days, including rainfall.
- Time how long it takes to fill a pan set out on the lawn with 1" of water - use that information for future watering to avoid excessive watering.
- It is better to water on infrequent, but deep watering cycles.
- The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning.
The watering restrictions will be year-round and go into affect starting May 1, 2008.
Questions may be directed to the Utilities Superintendent at 952-548-6373.