City Cracks Down on Water Restriction Violators

By: Cassie Anderson - Email

Updated: Tue 6:08 AM, Aug 21, 2012

The warnings are over. If you're caught watering your lawn on the wrong day, you will get a ticket.

With a mandatory water restriction in Lincoln, police are cracking down.

10-11 spotted a house near 40th and B street, sprinklers running on a day when residential watering is not allowed. Minutes later, police rolled up. No one was home, which made for frustration for Officer Steve Standley.

"The big challenge for us and the time consuming piece is having to go back and re-contact people that are not home. It's really a strain on police resources," Standley said.

With only a few exceptions to the rule, such as homes with private wells and businesses that rely on water, like car washes and commercial nurseries, police are busy.

The Platte River, when Lincoln's water basins are located, is at an historic low. Public Safety Director Tom Casady says if something doesn't change, Lincoln could face tougher water restrictions.

In his blog, Casady says a brown lawn is a sign of good citizenship.

"Now that we're in the drought and considering the serious conditions we face, I think it's a good thing for everyone to think twice about how much water they are putting on their lawn," Casady said.

If a $500 fine or jail time isn't enough to cut water usage, maybe the price of water is.

For every two month billing period, the first 16 units are $1.34 each, the next 30 units are $1.91 each and after that the price jumps to $2.96 a unit. Each unit is about 748 gallons.

To put it in perspective, you use about one gallon for every minute your hose runs. Continue to water on the wrong day and you could see Officer Standley on your door step.

"I don't see any excuses. We're not asking people not to take showers, not to cook food, not to have water for drinking, not to have water for pets. We are simply asking them to let the lawns and the outdoor watering go on those days specified," Standley said.

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