LOYALTON WATERING RESTRICTIONS were approved June 11th as Ordinance 11.06.040 No. 407 at a special City Council meeting. Mayor Darlene Riede gave credit to City Maintenance, Kenny Bennett, whom she said did a lot of research.
That Ordinance gave restrictions from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., according to street addresses. Only commercial users could water mornings.
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BUT, according to Scotts.com, “Watering in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the best time for your lawn; it's cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate. If you must water in the evening, try between 4 and 6 p.m. which should give the grass blades time to dry before nightfall. The later you water, the greater chance of disease becoming prevalent in your lawn.”
Epicgardening.com states, “that the early morning is hands down the best time to water plants (or any garden, for that matter).”
And, the five days between Thursday and Tuesday are too long and watering at night interferes with summertime activities.
So, there are new watering hours and “Revised” notices being passed out:
Street addresses ending in an even number may water Monday and Thursday from 7 to 10 a.m.
Street addresses ending in an odd number may water on Tuesday and Friday from 7 to 10 a.m.
All other users may water Monday and Thursday from 5 to 10 a.m. Again, no water on Saturday and Sunday. No water runoff.
According to City Clerk Kathy LeBlanc, this is an amendment to the Ordinance and should be followed.
AND OF COURSE, there’s “no car washing at any time,” just when Sierra Valley is plagued by huge swarms of grasshoppers.
PENALTIES are Ordinance #11.06.060:
1st violation: written notice of violation
2nd violation: within 12 months, sum of $75 added to customer’s water bill;3rd violation and any subsequent violation: within 12 months, penalty of $150 added to customer’s water bill;
4th violation and any subsequent violation shall constitute an infraction: within 12 months, $200 penalty added to customer’s water bill;
5th violation: within 12 months, $250 added to customer’s water bill.
For any subsequent violations penalty shall increase by $50 and be added to water bill.
SHERIFF’S BLOTTER, 6/21/24, Church St., Loyalton: Water overuse problem.
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