City Outdoor Time-of-Day Watering Restrictions Begin May 1
Outdoor Watering Prohibited between 10 am and 6 pm and no more than three times a week.
May 1, 2013__ With water restrictions going into effect in May, city water managers want to remind Santa Feans that they cannot water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and no more than three times a week.
The Santa Fe area is going into a third year of drought after the two driest and hottest years on record. In addition to limiting the time and number of days for outdoor watering, city water-use rules –Chapter 25 of the city municipal code – also address other water-wasting habits:
- Outdoor swimming pools must be covered when not in use.
- Vehicle washing at residences is limited to once per month, per vehicle, and must be done with a hose equipped with a “positive shut-off nozzle,” one that automatically shuts off when not in use.
- Commercial car sale lots and other commercial and governmental entities with on-site vehicle washing facilities are limited to washing each vehicle one time per month except under certain circumstances.
- No one is allowed to use water to clean sidewalks, driveways, patios or other hard surfaces with a hose or power washer.
- Water from landscape irrigation cannot flow onto hard surfaces or neighboring properties.
- Hand-watering must be done with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle and overhead watering is prohibited for trees and shrubs.
- Turf grass sod or grass seed mixes cannot contain more than 25 percent Kentucky bluegrass.
- A permit is required for all new irrigation system installations.
Those who violate the water-use rules can 955-2100 be fined up to $200. Violations are applied to water bills. Those who want to report water waste can call 995-4222. To report watering at City Parks call 955-2100.