Minneapolis lifts even-odd water sprinkling restrictions as drought conditions improve

The city of Minneapolis has lifted the even-odd water sprinkling restrictions as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has moved the Mississippi River Headwaters watershed to the drought watch phase and relaxed the goal of reducing water use.

While still below normal, Mississippi River flows have been steadily recovering since mid-September. In that same time period, Minneapolis and the city’s wholesale customers’ water consumption declined and have met target water usage levels. The even-odd water sprinkling restrictions had been in place since July 21.

The city continues to encourage residents and businesses to follow responsible water conservation practices, according to a news release.

Some water conservation tips are as follows:

• Install low flow shower heads and faucet aerators
• Take shorter showers using low flow showerheads instead of baths
• Turn the faucet off while you shave or brush your teeth
• Load dishes into the dishwasher without rinsing them
• Run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded
• Fill the sink to wash dishes by hand instead of letting the water run
• Use a large pan to clean vegetables rather than letting the water run
• Only wash full loads of laundry