Beat The Heat: Watering Tips And Restrictions In Cedar City

Well summer, or at least summer like weather busted on to the scene in southern Utah in a big way this week. While summer solstice isn't until June 20^th this year heat advisories and excessive heat warnings are covering a large portion of the area in this first week of June.

As we turn to ways to keep cool these days, we also look to see that our lawns and other landscaping features are watered to keep them from becoming lost to the heat of the days.

Gabrielle (Gabbie) Costello is the Public Information Officer for Cedar City, and she was on the radio with us to remind residents of city policies regrading the use of culinary water for irrigation.

“One thing we can kind of forget about in the summer...we do have annual irrigation restrictions that are effective April 1^st through October 31^st,” Costello told us. The restrictions prohibit watering of lawns from 8AM until 6PM. “That's one thing that really saves our aquifers through out the summer, because everyone is using more water,” Costello continued.

Violations can become costly. First time violations will bring a warning. A second violation could bring a penalty of water supply being shut of and a $25 re-connection fee. Those with a third violation could face a $100 penalty along with the water being shut off and the $25 re-connection fee.

While Costello says we seem to be in pretty good shape for water this year there is one concern she has heard. “One of the trigger points I always hear is how soon into the summer we need to start activating other aquifers. Last summer we didn't have to activate one I think it was not until July or August. We want to not have to activate those too quick,” Gabbie said.

Gabbie had more information to share about water, and other activities the city is involved with and you can hear more about all of that by checking out our podcast below.