Water Restrictions

In a special session held Tuesday, July 31, 2012, the Springfield City Council approved mandatory water use restrictions for all City Water, Light and Power water consumers, including water customers of communities that buy wholesale water from CWLP. The water restrictions will remain in force until Springfield's Mayor, by executive order, determines the water level of Lake Springfield has recovered sufficiently to no longer warrant mandatory conservation measures. Restrictions could expand if the lake level continues to drop.

Customers who violate the ordinance will be subject to fines of $50 per occurrence for their first conviction, $100 per occurrence for their second conviction, and $500 per occurrence for their third conviction. Each day upon which there is a violation will be considered a separate occurrence. Penalties will be added to the customer's next monthly utility billing if the fine is not paid within 10 days of receipt of the Notice of Violation from the City.

The restrictions apply to landscape watering; vehicle washing; the serving of water in restaurants; water leaks; use of ornamental fountains; and certain other water uses. Below is a summary of the major restrictions. For a complete list of all restrictions, open the full copy of An Ordinance Adopting Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations.

n	Spray irrigation systems and sprinklers for watering lawns, landscaped areas, gardens, trees, shrubs and other outdoor plantings may be used only three days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for odd-numbered addresses; and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for even-numbered addresses) and only during the hours of midnight to 8 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on those designated days. Multi-unit properties or large property parcels with both even- and odd-numbered addresses should water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. No watering at all is allowed on Sundays.

n	Regardless of whether you have an even- or odd-numbered address, you may do outdoor watering any day of the week except Sunday if you use (1) a hand-held hose, (2) a bucket of less than five gallons that has been filled at a faucet or with a hand-held hose, or (3) a drip line or soaker hose that does not allow any water to be sprayed into the air. (Hint: Reducing water pressure and/or covering soaker hoses with a heavy layer of mulch will help to prevent them from spraying.)

n	If you have new landscaping, lawn, sod, trees (less than two years old), or shrubs that require more watering than can be achieved by using the three-day-per-week irrigation/sprinkler limitation discussed above or by using a hand-held hose six days a week, you may purchase a 21-day permit that will allow you to use a spray irrigation system or sprinklers to water these new plantings every day except Sunday. This permit costs $100 and may be paid for with cash or a check. A three-day chemical application permit is also available for $25 (cash or check). Both permits must be purchased at the CWLP Cashier's Office inside the lobby of Municipal Center West, 300 S. 7th Street. If you prefer to fill out the permit application in advance, a printable form is available online. For more information about these permits call the Customer Service Office, 789-2030, email publicinformation@cwlp.com, or refer to the Ordinance Adopting Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations.

n	Allowing water to run off into a street, gutter or ditch during irrigation is prohibited.

n	Car washing at home is allowed only on weekends and only if a faucet-filled bucket or hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle for quick rinses is used. There are currently no restrictions on commercial car washes or other vehicle washing for commercial purposes.

n	Use of ornamental fountains that do not support aquatic plants or animals (such as birds or fish) is prohibited. Fountains that do support aquatic plants or animals may be refilled or topped off on the address' designated irrigation days from 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. and midnight to 8 a.m.

n	Lake Springfield lease-holders must have a permit to withdraw water directly from the lake. These $100 permits must be purchased at the CWLP Cashiers Office in the lobby of Municipal Center West, 300 S. 7th Street. Payment may be made in cash or by check. If you prefer to fill out the permit application in advance, a printable form is available online. For more information about these permits, call the Customer Service Office, 789-2030, email publicinformation@cwlp.com, or refer to the Ordinance Adopting Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations.

n	Car washing at home is allowed only on weekends and only if a faucet-filled bucket or hand-held hose with a shut-off nozzle is used.

n	Car-wash fundraisers require a free permit. Only one permit per organization per year will be allowed. Permits must be obtained at the CWLP Cashiers Office in the lobby of Municipal Center West, 300 S. 7th Street. If you prefer to fill out the permit application in advance, a printable form is available online. For more information about these permits, call the Customer Service Office, 789-2030, email publicinformation@cwlp.com, or refer to the Ordinance Adopting Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations.

n	Restaurants are requested to serve water only when specifically requested by customers.

n	Failure to make timely repairs to controllable water leaks will be a violation of this ordinance.