Extreme Restrictions Across The Country

The biggest news stories over the last several months affecting landscape contractor and maintenance professionals have been the ongoing national drought, combined with a very mild winter and a record-breaking heat wave this summer. And now, this lack of rainfall and excessive heat wave has exacerbated the drought?EUR??,,????'???s effects and is now showing itself in a record number of ever stricter irrigation ordinance around the county.

Two Texas Cities Hit Stage 3 Irrigation Restrictions
Stage 3 water restrictions are set to begin in New Braunfels, Texas. Stage 3 watering restrictions means that landscape watering using a sprinkler or irrigation system will only be permitted one day per week every other week according to the last digit of the customer?EUR??,,????'???s address.

All watering, whether with a sprinkler or irrigation system, a hand held hose, bucket, drip irrigation system or soaker hose, must be done before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Use of a hand held hose, bucket, drip irrigation system, or soaker hose will continue to be allowed any day of the week before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

The City of Windcrest is now under Stage 3 water restrictions. Residents will only be allowed to water their lawns one day a week based on the last digit of their address.

On the assigned day, contractors can only water with a sprinkler between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Iowa Hit With Watering Restrictions
Belle Plaine, Iowa residents are allowed to water their lawns, plants or trees one day a week and only at night. People living "north of the railroad tracks" can water on Mondays from 8 pm to 8 am. Others living south of the tracks on Tuesdays from 8pm to 8am.

Officers aren't only responding to residential violators, they're also going to businesses. First time offenders will usually get a warning, but repeat offenders will get tickets and face a $500 fine.

Even numbered addresses can water Wednesday, Friday, and Suvnday. Odd numbered addresses can water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. No one can water on Mondays.

Compliance failure will result in a written warning for first-time violators, a $100 fine for second-time violators, $250 for the third and $500 per day for the fourth.

"Our goal is not to ticket people, but to ensure that our infrastructure can keep up with community demand," Mayor Mark Kruzan said in a press release.

City of Bloomington Utilities sent a letter to its water customers, declaring the water emergency and the implementation of the "Mandatory Water Use Restrictions" on August 9.