Summer 2018 Watering Schedule

Take a Bite out of Summer Water Demand

In the wee hours of the morning on a hot summer day last July, there was a time when every well in our district was pumping water at the same time.

Every summer, just like clockwork — between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. — the amount of pumped water quadruples from 7,000 gallons per minute to 25,000-30,000 gallons per minute when everyone’s sprinklers automatically kick-on.​

By 6:30 a.m., as the sprinklers turn off, demand for water drops low enough that one of the water pumps can be shut down.

By 8 a.m., the demand for water is back down to half of the peak demand.

It is clear automatic sprinkler systems cause this peak for water pumping.

There are two solutions to the problem,

(1) we could increase our pumping capacity, or

(2) we could spread out the peak, so we can meet demand with our existing pumps.

The first option is easiest; however, it is very expensive and requires the construction of new equipment which could cost between two and four million dollars.

This cost would eventually increase your rates.

The second option is much less expensive but requires the cooperation of many of our customers.

We are asking customers who have an address ending with an odd number to move the start time of their irrigation system to 2 a.m.​

Addresses with odd numbers asked to start sprinklers at 2 a.m.

This is completely voluntary.

This could spread out the peak and delay expensive construction by many years.

We won’t be policing or monitoring any one’s individual water use.

Thank you for your help.

We will know soon if this makes a change.