St. Paul, Minneapolis impose watering schedules and restrictions
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Several cities in the Twin Cities metro, including Minneapolis and St. Paul, have imposed watering schedules and restrictions and are encouraging residents to conserve water amid the ongoing drought.
The changes come after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced last week the state is now in the "drought warning phase" of the statewide drought plan, with 52% of the state experiencing a severe drought.
St. Paul
St. Paul Regional Water Services is encouraging customers to follow new watering schedules and watering time restrictions.
Starting Tuesday, customers with odd-numbered addresses are asked to limit outdoor watering to odd-numbered days of the month. Customers with even-numbered addresses are asked to limit outdoor water use to even-numbered days of the month. All are also asked to limit outdoor watering to the cooler times of the day, before noon or after 6 p.m.
Some of the exceptions include commercial uses of outdoor water, such as nurseries or community gardens.
Minneapolis
Starting Wednesday, Minneapolis is implementing new watering rules. Sprinkling lawns is not allowed from noon to 6 p.m. any day. Those with even-numbered addresses may water lawns on even-numbered dates. Those with odd-numbered addresses may water on odd-numbered dates.
Exceptions have been made for bushes and flowers that can be watered with a hand-held hose as needed. Vegetable gardens and new sod (first two weeks from placement) may be watered on any day but not during the prohibited afternoon hours of noon to 6 p.m. Trees may be watered with a dripping hose, bucket or tree watering bag as needed.
Golden Valley
Sprinkling lawns is NOT allowed from noon to 6 p.m. on any day.
On calendar days that are even numbers, the even side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
On calendar days that are odd numbers, the odd side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
Exceptions have been made for bushes and flowers that can be watered with a hand-held hose as needed. Vegetable gardens and new sod (first two weeks from placement) may be watered on any day but not during the prohibited afternoon hours of noon to 6 pm.
Trees may be watered with a dripping hose, bucket, or tree watering bag as needed.
New Hope
Sprinkling lawns is NOT allowed from noon to 6 p.m. on any day.
On calendar days that are even numbers, the even side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
On calendar days that are odd numbers, the odd side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
Exceptions have been made for bushes and flowers that can be watered with a hand-held hose as needed. Vegetable gardens and new sod (first two weeks from placement) may be watered on any day but not during the prohibited afternoon hours of noon to 6 pm.
Trees may be watered with a dripping hose, bucket, or tree watering bag as needed.
Crystal
Sprinkling lawns is NOT allowed from noon to 6 p.m. on any day.
On calendar days that are even numbers, the even side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
On calendar days that are odd numbers, the odd side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
Exceptions have been made for bushes and flowers that can be watered with a hand-held hose as needed. Vegetable gardens and new sod (first two weeks from placement) may be watered on any day but not during the prohibited afternoon hours of noon to 6 pm.
Trees may be watered with a dripping hose, bucket, or tree watering bag as needed.
Hastings
Beginning Wednesday, the City of Hastings is prohibiting watering lawns, landscaping or gardens between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. all days.
Outdoor car washing and recreational water use, with the exception of swimming pools and where the water used is captured or recirculated, is also prohibited.
The city will allow a one-week exemption from the restrictions for newly planted sod, grass or landscaping if the property owner registers for the exemption with the city’s water utility.
The water restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
Maple Grove
The City of Maple Grove is prohibiting outdoor lawn watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days, effective immediately.
All other times, residents must follow and odd-even scheduled when sprinkling lawns. Homeowners and businesses with addresses ending in an odd number may water on odd numbered calendar days. Those with addresses ending in an even number, may water on even numbered days.
The restrictions apply to all city water customers and will be effective until further notice.
Residents asked to conserve indoor water use
In addition to watering schedules and restrictions, officials are asking residents to conserve water use inside the home, too. This includes taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when you shave or brush your teeth, and running dishwashers and washing machines only when they are full.