By Myrna Traintvein
Times-News Correspondent
Watering restrictions are put in place for outside use,
both culinary and irrigation supplies
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Don't turn on that hose or sprinkling system, unless you
want a fine, during the hours between 10 in the morning and
6 in the afternoon this summer.
"Gov. Mike Leavitt asked cities to pass an ordinance
setting times during the day when outside watering could
take place," said Randy McKnight, city administrator.
Nephi City Council members voted to adopt just such an
ordinance setting a time-of-day watering and, as a result,
no one using either culinary water or irrigation company
secondary water will be allowed to sprinkle or irrigate
landscape plantings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on any day.
Violation of a new city ordinance will result in a Class
C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $750. The
penalty for a misdemeanor is set forth in Utah law and will
be determined by a judge if an individual decides to go to
court.
Otherwise, the fine may, as in the case of a traffic
violation, just be paid according to the fine schedule.
The new watering restrictions become effective on Monday,
May 20.
Outside watering restrictions in Nephi City this year
will change from the pattern followed in past years--there
will no longer be a restriction as to day but there will be
a restriction as to time of day.
The ordinance states that the provisions of the ordinance
applies to all plants and land within the city but does not
apply when a new lawn has been planted; for short cycles
required for testing, inspecting and maintaining irrigation
systems; and other situations permitted by the city.
"New lawns that require frequent irrigation for
establishment purposes within 90 days of planting are
exempted for that period of time," said McKnight.
The ordinance was prepared by Denton Hatch, city
attorney.
The restrictions, of course, do not apply to irrigation
water used for agricultural purposes.
"Officials of the Nephi Irrigation Company want to work
cooperatively with the city," said McKnight, " and so,
though they have already sent out notices restricting use of
the secondary system to every other day, they will re notify
their users that they will now follow suit and will restrict
use of their system to time of day."
Chad Brough, mayor, said he had a concern about the
enforceability of the new ordinance. "Who will watch for
wrongful use, who will approach the person illegally using
water, and who will follow through?" he asked.
He said he feared enforcing the ordinance might become a
law enforcement nightmare.
While enforcing the new ordinance, would, like all other
ordinances, fall under jurisdiction of the police
department, it should be no worse than enforcing any
ordinance.
"I am sure people will share this information with their
neighbors and will go to them and say, 'Did you know you
shouldn't be using water at this time of day?'" said Greg
Rowley, council member.
Others may alert city hall staff members and request that
a police officer drive past a neighbor's home and observe
the water being misused.
Kent Park, council member, said he thought most people
were aware that they needed to conserve water this year. "I
think most people are sensitive to water conservation."
In addition, the advertising done by the state will also
help Nephi because people will be made aware of the need to
conserve water and of the proper time of day to use water by
those infomercials.
The problem with the watering-every-other-day method was
that the irrigation company, for a variety of reasons, was
not always able to deliver the needed water last summer.
Therefore, if a person missed their designated day, they
would water the next day, even though it wasn't there
turn.
"You don't need to water plants everyday, we were told
(at a water conservation schooling) but you do need to water
every third day," said Brent Bowles, council member.
The biggest draw on the culinary system used to be during
daylight hours but now, with automated sprinkling systems
which could be set at night, that was no longer the
case.
The city has been maintaining enough water in the tank to
provide adequate resources in case of a home or business
fire.
Nevertheless, water conservation was becoming
increasingly important to the community, said McKnight,
since this is the fourth year of drought and flows are
decreasing as a result.
|
