ALBUQUERQUE, MARCH 29 – It’s no joke: Time-of-day watering restrictions go into effect April 1.  By law, Bernalillo County residents may only water their lawns and landscapes before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m. The restrictions, which apply to spray irrigation, will be in place until Oct. 31.

“We have had time-of-day watering restrictions every spring and summer since 2000,” said Katherine Yuhas, the Water Authority’s Conservation Officer. “They play an important role in conservation, because watering in the morning or evening prevents water loss to wind and evaporation during the hottest, windiest part of the day.”

Because 40 percent of our drinking water is used on landscapes, paying attention to time-of-day rules can have a big impact on conservation.

“We did a great job saving water last year during a terrible drought, and we want to keep up the good work,” Yuhas said.  “Irrigating in the early morning or late evening is an easy way to save water.  And it’s also the law.”

People found in violation of time-of-day watering restrictions can face fines starting at $20 for a first offense and going up to $2,000.  The fines are the same for violators of the Water Authority’s water waste rules, which prohibit users from allowing water to spray or run onto the public right-of-way, regardless of time of day. These rules apply whether you are washing your car, watering your lawn, or draining your swimming pool.

Yuhas urged water users to apply the time-of-day rules in conjunction with the Water Authority’s voluntary “Water by the Numbers” program, which asks customers to water just once a week in March, twice a week in April and May, and three times a week in the summer before ramping down in the fall.

“Doing these things allowed us to meet our per capita usage goal of 150 gallons per day three years ahead of schedule,” Yuhas said.  “Now is not the time to grow complacent.”