We would like to ask for your increased efforts to limit outdoor water use to help conserve regional water supplies.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't water roads and sidewalks, fix broken sprinkler heads.
Water lawns, plants and trees - not roads and sidewalks. Check to see if your irrigation heads are broken, tilted, or not set-up properly by scheduling an irrigation assessment. Sweep driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of spraying with a hose – but please not down the storm drain or into the street gutter. Use hand-watering, deep root watering, or drip irrigation for trees, shrubs, bushes, perennial beds, annual flowers and vegetable gardens. Always use a shut-off nozzle on your hose when hand-watering plants.
Concerning residential water use trends in Lafayette
The City is experiencing concerning trends with residential water demands. Elevated outdoor water use began a full month earlier than in typical years and has continued to escalate over the past two months.
Snowpack figures are below average again this year and dry soils and sustained evaporative winds are contributing to the reduction of runoff before it can feed the municipal water supply. This reflects yet another challenge in managing regional water supplies in a changing climate.
Conserving limited regional water supplies can only be addressed as a collective effort. If conditions do not improve, the City will be implementing additional outdoor water restrictions.
The following restrictions are in place year-round in Lafayette
Violations of Municipal Code Section 120-13 are subject to fines.
- (EFFECTIVE JUNE 2022) Outdoor irrigation is limited to a maximum of three days per week
- No watering of outdoor landscaping between the hours of 10am and 6pm except:
- Watering by hand with a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off valve
- City-owned facilities: golf course, high traffic parks, and athletic fields
- Commercial agriculture
- No overrun of water onto any area not covered by vegetation such as sidewalks, curbs, driveways, streets, and other paved areas
- No washing of paved areas such as driveways with a hose
Additional conservation tips and information
Thank you for joining the front range region in the difficult effort to change water use habits. We can accomplish so much more together. To help this regional effort, the City has compiled some effective conservation tips such as watering only two days per week and letting grass grow longer before mowing. View these tips and more information at lafayetteco.gov/WaterConservation.