Watering restrictions put in place in Hailey last summer have contributed to a 25 percent reduction in water use.
The city returned to odd-even watering days last year to encourage water conservation in the city after the installation of a water-metering system in 2007 failed to get residents to cut back on water use.
Since last spring, the city has issued $1,400 in fines to repeat offenders who water on the wrong day of the week or between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Police Chief Jeff Gunter said his officers have issued more than 200 watering violation warnings this summer. Sixty-two of the warnings have gone to second-time offenders, who get put into a city database. The third violation of the rules results in a shut-off notice.
Ten residents this summer, in addition to four last summer, have had three strikes against them and have been given a water shut-off notice. All but a few have paid a $100 fee to the city, rather than have their connection to the municipal water supply cut off.
Hailey Police and the Public Works Department will continue to patrol through summer for water-use violations, hanging violation notices from doorknobs.
The best way to avoid a warning or citation from the city is to water only after 6 p.m. in the evening and make sure sprinklers are off by 10 a.m.
Residents should water their lawns on odd-numbered calendar days if they live on the odd-numbered side of the street, and on even-numbered days if they live on the even-numbered side of the street.
Public Works Director Tom Hellen said he thinks the reduction in water use is also due to the bad economy.
"This is a bill you can control," he said.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
