With the past three water years (October through September) being the driest on record and the likelihood of a fourth year of drought, on December 13, the City Council voted to reinstate two-days-per-week watering restrictions for sprinkler irrigation. The watering restrictions only apply to sprinkler/spray irrigation and do not apply to other methods of irrigation, such as drip systems and hand-watering.

Beginning January 1, 2023 (and until lifted by City Council), sprinkler/spray irrigation used by residents and businesses is limited to no more than two days per week and must follow an odd/even schedule:

Odd-numbered addresses are only allowed to run sprinklers on Tuesdays and/or Saturdays
Even-numbered addresses are only allowed to run sprinklers on Wednesdays and/or Sundays

These restrictions were previously activated in the winter of 2021.

If you see what appears to be more frequent watering in areas of large parks and landscapes, please note that parks and large landscapes are not subject to the odd/even schedule restrictions listed for residential and commercial customers. The size of these properties can cause challenges with day-per-week watering limitations. The watering schedules for these properties may mean that watering is occurring more than two nights per week for the property, but each irrigation zone is only being watered two times per week.

Checking for Leaks Around Your Property

With cooler weather and more rain (hopefully!) on the horizon, irrigation systems are typically shut off or dialed back for the winter months. Now is a good time to check for leaks around your property and to use AquaHawk to assist in finding any leaks. If you are not already registered, go to SaveDavisWater.org for registration information.

  • Listen for sounds of running water. If you hear water running inside or outside the home this may indicate a leak.
  • Check your toilets. Toilets can have silent flapper leaks between the toilet tank and the toilet bowl. Check for them by placing two to three drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and leaving it for 15 minutes. If you see color in the toilet bowl, you may have a leak. These leaks can usually be fixed by replacing the toilet flapper.
  • Look for drips. Check that faucets and showerheads are tightened and not dripping.
  • Watch for the pooling of water. Check for any pooling of water in the landscape that could indicate an irrigation leak. Check for any damage to the irrigation system and ensure that the timer is working correctly

Using AquaHawk to Assist in Finding Leaks PDF

Water Usage and Water Leaks PDF

More

More information on existing mandatory water-use restrictions can be found at www.SaveDavisWater.org

More information about irrigation restrictions and ways to identify leaks