Rainfall, conservation measures forestall more water restrictions in Minneapolis

Water conservation measures and recent rains are keeping Minneapolis from implementing more restrictive limits to outdoor water use in response to this summer’s drought.

The city remains in an extreme drought phase, as defined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Drought Action Plan.

However, the Mississippi River flow did recently move above 1,500 cubic feet per second. If the river drops below that flow rate for five consecutive days, Minneapolis will enter a restrictive phase, requiring additional restrictions.

Since water flow in the Mississippi River is well below normal rates, odd-even sprinkling restrictions implemented on July 21 will remain in effect until further notice.

Those restrictions are:

• Watering lawns is not allowed from noon to 6 p.m. on any day.
• On calendar days that are even numbers (examples: Aug. 26 or Sept. 18), residents living on the even sides of streets (examples: 1238 Oak St. or 2574 Cedar Ave.) can water lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window.
• On calendar days that are odd numbers (examples: Aug. 27 or Sept. 19), residents living on the odd sides of streets (examples: 1247 Maple St. or 2561 18th Ave.) can water lawns.

Enforcement of these restrictions is in place. After one written warning, subsequent failure to comply with these restrictions will add a $25 penalty to the property’s utility bill.

Exceptions to the restrictions include:

• Bushes and flowers may be watered with a hand-held hose as needed.
• Vegetable gardens and new sod (first two weeks from placement) may be watered on any day but not during the prohibited afternoon hours of noon to 6 p.m.
• Trees may be watered with a dripping hose, bucket or tree watering bag as needed.

To learn more about the city’s water treatment and distribution services, click here.