The city of Hailey is considering a return to odd-even watering days and shorter watering hours to conserve water this summer.
Under a municipal watering ordinance amendment presented Monday night, the city would require that residents only water from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. and only every other day. City police as well as water department officials would help in enforcing the "three-strikes" ordinance, which, if passed, will take effect May 15. After two warnings, the offending water user's water will be shut off resulting in a $75 dollar fee to reconnect to the municipal water system.
"The strict rules are necessary to make sure there is enough water for everyone," said City Engineer Tom Helen.
Helen will provide information on the city's Web site on measuring tests to find out just how much watering is required for a healthy lawn. Hailey Mayor Rick Davis took the test on his own lawn last summer.
"I found I could cut my water usage in half," he said.
Odd-even watering schedules were used by the city from 2001-2006 until water metering was established in the city. It was thought that metering would provide sufficient economic incentive to limit the use of water. Yet Helen found that the city needs to take further action to conserve, based on last summer's pressure readings during peak water usage days of summer.
Davis will be given authority to restrict irrigation if the new ordinance is passed.
"The fact is we either need to restrict irrigation in the city and/or find a new source of water," he said.
