Watering Restriction | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com

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By ABC30

Friday, April 24, 2009

Fresno, CA Those changes could affect how thousands take care of their homes and cars. It basically means the current watering restrictions, on odd and even days will continue, but residents are being asked to change the time of day they water.

The city currently allows residents to water every other day, based on whether their address ends with an odd or an even number.

Chad Chadjarian is allowed to water on the odd days.

The city limits the hours residents can water, from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and again from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.in the morning.

Under the new guidelines the 8 to 11 watering would be eliminated.

By eliminating the late morning cycle, and encouraging conservation, the city hopes to cut water use by 20 percent.

The city's allocation of water from Millerton Lake and Pine Flat Dam are expected to be only reduced by about ten or 15 per cent this year, but the underground aquifer, which supplies most of the city's water remains seriously overdrawn.

So, in addition to voluntary conservation measures, the city will step up enforcement of the mandatory watering days and hours.

If the voluntary restrictions and increased enforcement don't work, more mandatory measures may be taken.

Jean and Monte Montgomery are already ahead of the pack...they installed an artificial lawn. The water meters are coming. The city is expected to award contracts for meter installation in the next couple of weeks, and within a few years, every Fresno home will be like every Clovis home, and have metered water.

It can cost more, but it helps conserve. Metered water users in Clovis use one hundred gallons per person less every day, than unmetered homes in Fresno.

So Fresno's voluntary restrictions ask folks to just water at night.

In addition, if washing a car in the driveway, use a nozzle that turns off, instead of letting the hose run.

If these don't work, mandatory restrictions can be coming.