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Hastings Rivertown News . ~~~~ City of Hastings . 101 East Fourth Street, Hastings, MN 55033-1955 . (651) 437-4127 Odd/Even Sprinkling Ban By City Ordinance, a permanent odd/even sprinkling ban is automatically in effect ITom May 15 to September 15 each year. The purpose of the ban is to even out water de- mands and reduce the peak pumping demand ITom the City wells caused during the summer months by lawn sprinkling. In June of 1997, the City of Hastings experienced its high- est recorded water usage day, pumping over 4 million gal- lons of water from the 3 wells serving the high system. This was 94% of these wells' daily pumping capacity. There wasn't enough reserve left to fight a large fire or to meet water demands if one of the wells malfunctioned. This large usage was caused by lawn sprinking. A water emer- gency had to be declared, and City crews went door-to- door, posting notices informing homeowners that an odd/ even sprinking ban had been declared. Following the dec- laration of the sprinking ban, water usage declined to 2.4 million gallons on the high system, or 56% of the wells' capacity. Similar emergency sprinking bans have had to be instituted 2 times in the past 4 years. In each case, the odd/even sprinking ban leveled off water usage to a more manage- able daily level. Improvements to the water supply system have recently been completed, including two new water stor- age tanks and increasing the pumping capacity of two ex- isting wells. However, even these improvements will not add enough pumping capacity to the system to allow everyone to sprinkle their lawns at the same time. At least one, and possibly two, new wells would be needed to meet such a high usage and leave enough capacity in reserve for emergency situa- tions. Any new wells constructed to meet lawn sprinking demands would likely sit idle for nine months of every year. Volume IV Issue 2 Instituting a permanent odd/even sprinkling ban is a compromise that curtails expensive water system ex- pansions by placing modest restrictions on lawn sprinkling.The permanent odd/even ban ordinance reads as follows: "From May J 5 to September J of each year, an odd/even lawn sprinkling ban shall be in effect for all lawn sprinkling systems supplied by water from the City of Hastings water utility. Properties with even-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns only on days with even numbered dates. Properties with odd-numbered addresses may sprinkle lawns only on days with odd numbered dates. A one (1) week exemptionfrom the odd/even sprinkling ban may be granted for newly planted sod, grass, or landscap- ing upon registering for an exemption with the Hastings Utility Department. Other exemptions may be granted upon evaluation and recommendation of the Hastings Utility Superintendent. " City Council Contacts & Telephone Numbers = Ward Hastinos City Council Mayor Mike Werner Councilmembers Janette Yandrasits Mike Simancek Ed Riveness Janice Johnson Paul Hicks Lynn Moratzka 438-3194 437-3387 437-4416 437-2831 437-8866 437-7869 437-4143 1 2 3 4 At Large At Large Page 1 July/August 1999