basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,649 
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Post by basketdiva on Jun 4, 2015 20:30:49 GMT
Due to the drought here in Eastern Washington, the irrigation district has set mandatory watering schedules. Long story short, instead of an odd even schedule based on address, we are on a 2 days a week watering schedule. Some people have mornings both days and others have afternoon both days while others like me have Monday am and Thursday pm. Anywayyy, I so want to report my neighbors who are watering at noon every day but I won't. I'm sure they will get caught soon enough ( 2 warnings then $100 fine and "boot" on valve, etc,etc). Not even sure how the district will know if there is a "cheater" unless someone reports it.
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Post by freecharlie on Jun 4, 2015 20:34:37 GMT
I'd report them if it is a constant thing. Once or twice I would let slide as it sounds pretty rigid and Mayne they aren't home to water at the right time.
Watering at noon is not very smart on their part even without restrictions
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,649
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Post by basketdiva on Jun 4, 2015 20:38:15 GMT
Most people have automatic systems here. Yes it is a rigid schedule but this the only way to insure we have water all summer. It is illegal to use City water for lawns when on irrigation so my yard will look terrible by the end of July but nothing I can do.
These neighbors have always had their system set for noon. Either they don't read their mail or they don't care.
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jun 4, 2015 20:46:27 GMT
Are you frienfly enough that you can ask them if they are aware? Do they have a gardener or service that sets the system? Maybe they set it and forgot? Whatever the case, the restrictions are there for a reason. I would talk to them or report them.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by basketdiva on Jun 4, 2015 20:51:27 GMT
They have not even acknowledged us we we moved in a couple of months ago
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 19:22:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 20:57:14 GMT
I'd report them and wouldn't feel guilty about it.
Ignoring water restrictions doesn't just affect them - it affects everyone.
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Post by eebud on Jun 4, 2015 21:08:39 GMT
We have had water restrictions for as long as I can remember. They change over time depending on how much rain we have had and how full the lakes are. With all of the flooding, we are back to being allowed to water 2 days a week. Our days are trash day and 3 days later so for us, it is Monday and Thursday. We cannot water between the hours of 10am and 6pm (or something like that). DH said that one of our neighbors runs his sprinkler system every single day. He runs it early in the morning. I don't think they guy has a clue how to run it. We had something like 20 inches of rain in the month of May and he is still running it every day.
Every time we have restrictions that get strict like once a week or once every two weeks, I will see the water department riding the neighborhood looking for violators, taking pictures and writing down addresses.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Jun 4, 2015 21:17:26 GMT
My SO has a neighbor that is in her 80's and has gardeners. He noticed that her sprinklers were not reset for the drought restrictions. She had no clue how to change it, so he did it for her. Perhaps your neighbor doesn't know how to change it. Maybe talk to them before reporting it? They may not even know that the sprinklers are going off if it's during working hours.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
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Post by georgiapea on Jun 4, 2015 21:24:42 GMT
Water usage needs to be handled equitably so there is enough everyone has some. I would report the neighbors because they will harm many people if the water runs out completely.
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Post by Dictionary on Jun 4, 2015 21:29:35 GMT
So I feel silly on asking this but how does mandatory times reduce water consumption during a drought? Being we are also on a water restriction out here in California we are allotted so many units of water. They tell us do x,y and z to help but if we go over our allotment we pay, and pay hefty..no warnings that I am aware of.
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 4, 2015 21:39:19 GMT
Most people have automatic systems here. Yes it is a rigid schedule but this the only way to insure we have water all summer. It is illegal to use City water for lawns when on irrigation so my yard will look terrible by the end of July but nothing I can do. These neighbors have always had their system set for noon. Either they don't read their mail or they don't care. I can't believe they are watering at noon?! Does your city have an anonymous tip line? We have that here and are restrictions are also 2 days a week before 10 or after 6 (I think - we don't have a lawn so I don't pay a lot of attention). There is no restriction on which 2 days though. I wonder if that is so city workers can see easily if someone is watering on days they shouldn't? Some water districts here are patrolling neighborhoods looking for over watering and run-off onto the street. |
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Post by freecharlie on Jun 4, 2015 21:47:46 GMT
So I feel silly on asking this but how does mandatory times reduce water consumption during a drought? Being we are also on a water restriction out here in California we are allotted so many units of water. They tell us do x,y and z to help but if we go over our allotment we pay, and pay hefty..no warnings that I am aware of. in theory since you are only watering twice a week, you are using less water than if you were watering three times. The restriction between 11 and 5 or whatever it is is because the water is more likely to evaporate during that time causing you to water more to get the same result. |
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by basketdiva on Jun 4, 2015 22:00:50 GMT
Living in a dy area, most people water every day and don't care how much goes into the street. They also don't understand that just becuase we live on th Columbia River, the irrigation water does not come from there. Also there are restrictions on draw downs of the water from the Columbia due to salmon habitat. Watering 2x a week will greatly reduce usage. So far, the irrigation district has not set up a hotline to report abuse. I'll give them a few more days to see if they change their watering schedule before turning into a 'tattle tale"  |
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Post by Dictionary on Jun 4, 2015 22:08:58 GMT
So I feel silly on asking this but how does mandatory times reduce water consumption during a drought? Being we are also on a water restriction out here in California we are allotted so many units of water. They tell us do x,y and z to help but if we go over our allotment we pay, and pay hefty..no warnings that I am aware of. in theory since you are only watering twice a week, you are using less water than if you were watering three times. The restriction between 11 and 5 or whatever it is is because the water is more likely to evaporate during that time causing you to water more to get the same result. Ah thanks for explaining that, the only flaw I see is if I can water heavily for 30 minutes or so, twice a week could add up more than 3 days a week for 10 minutes. |
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Post by gramasue on Jun 4, 2015 22:11:08 GMT
Living in a dy area, most people water every day and don't care how much goes into the street. They also don't understand that just becuase we live on th Columbia River, the irrigation water does not come from there. Also there are restrictions on draw downs of the water from the Columbia due to salmon habitat. Watering 2x a week will greatly reduce usage. So far, the irrigation district has not set up a hotline to report abuse. I'll give them a few more days to see if they change their watering schedule before turning into a 'tattle tale" This sounds like a good solution. I understand your frustration, especially as you and your other neighbours are following the rules but you also don't want to create a bad relationship with these people. You never know, they might have a way of finding out who reported them. Maybe you could call the water department and just mention vaguely that there are 'some people' who are being wasteful and perhaps they could do a drive-by to confirm who it is. That way you're a concerned citizen but not directly involved. |
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by basketdiva on Jun 4, 2015 22:29:04 GMT
in theory since you are only watering twice a week, you are using less water than if you were watering three times. The restriction between 11 and 5 or whatever it is is because the water is more likely to evaporate during that time causing you to water more to get the same result. Ah thanks for explaining that, the only flaw I see is if I can water heavily for 30 minutes or so, twice a week could add up more than 3 days a week for 10 minutes. It's actually suppose to be better to water to water 30 minutes twice a week-helps the plants/lawn develop a deeper root structure. |
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Post by blondiec47 on Jun 4, 2015 23:25:45 GMT
Here if you have new planting or grass the restrictions don't apply, thankfully because I want grass I am sick of the mud in the yard
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