Submitted by The City of Lacey
Lacey water customers will follow an alternate day watering schedule for their yards and outdoor landscapes beginning Monday, June 1, 2015. Alternate day watering is mandatory for all Lacey water customers during the months of June, July, August, and September.
The Lacey City Council approved the watering policy in 2006, as an effort to reduce peak water demand during the summer. Lacey’s water usage has exceeded 13 million gallons per day during summer months compared with only five million gallons per day in the winter.
Water customers with addresses ending with an odd number (i.e., 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9) may water Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday. Addresses ending with an even number (i.e., 0, 2, 4, 6, & 8) may water on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Friday is a non-watering day for all Lacey water customers.
Scheduled watering applies to turf (grass), annual and perennial ornamental flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, and any other landscaping plant material that is regularly maintained outside of a residence or commercial building. Water used for other purposes such as pools, pressure washing, outdoor potted plants, hanging baskets, and plants inside greenhouses are not currently restricted by this policy. Lacey water customers failing to follow the alternate day watering schedule will receive a warning. Repeated violations could ultimately lead to service being discontinued.
The water policy does allow limited exemptions. For example, newly seeded lawns, newly installed landscapes, and publicly-owned facilities with active playfields may be watered more frequently. To obtain an exemption under the alternate day watering schedule, customers must contact Lacey Water Resources.
On May 15, 2015 Governor Inslee declared a drought emergency for Washington State. Lacey does not anticipate water shortages in the near future nor does it anticipate a need to enforce water conservation measures or place restrictions on water use because of the 2015 drought emergency. Regardless, Lacey Water Resources encourages all of its customers to conserve water both indoors and outdoors. Lacey Water Resources requires all customers to follow the odd-even watering policy, which is designed to limit peak water demand, June 1 through September 30.
For more information regarding the alternate day watering policy, please contact Lacey Water Resources at (360) 438-2687, or by email at WaterResources@ci.lacey.wa.us. Information is also available on the city’s website at www.ci.lacey.wa.us/odd-even.
