Restrictions to lawn watering using treated drinking or tap water will start on Monday, May 1.
By scheduling lawn watering to take place early in the morning, the City of Richmond is hoping to reduce the peak demand on the water system.
Under the Stage 1 restrictions, residential lawn watering is allowed on Saturdays for even-numbered addresses and Sundays for odd-numbered addresses. Automatic watering can run from 5 to 7 a.m. and manual watering is allowed form 6 to 9 a.m.
For residential areas, community members are allowed to water trees, shrubs, decorative planters and flowers any day from 5 to 9 a.m. with a sprinkler and and anytime if they use hand watering or drip irrigation.
Non-residential lawns on even-numbered addresses can be watered on Mondays and odd-numbered addresses can be watered on Tuesdays. Automatic watering is allowed from 4 to 6 a.m. and manual watering is allowed from 6 to 9 a.m.
Trees, shrubs, decorative planters and flowers on non-residential properties can be watered any day with sprinklers from 4 to 9 a.m. and any time if using hand watering or drip irrigation.
All hoses are required to have an automatice shut-off device.
Edible plants are exempt, as well as the use of other types of water including rainwater, grey water (such as wastewater from baths, sinks and other appliances), recycled water and other sources of water outside of the municipal water supply.
Residents treating their lawns with nematodes or installing new lawns may apply for an exemption permit by submitting an application and copies of a receipt or invoice for the services to [email protected].
The permit fee is $39.50 per dwelling unit for new lawns and non-metered residents and free for metered residents.
The restrictions will be in effect until Sunday, October 15 and will be in place regardless of weather conditions. For more information, visit the City of Richmond’s water conservation page.
