Watering your lawn? OKC city ordinance limits which days residents can use sprinklers

Dale Denwalt, The Oklahoman
Updated ·4 min read

Watering your lawn? There's a rule for that.

As summertime heat returns, Oklahoma City's Utilities Department is reminding customers this week about the city's even-odd watering ordinance. It's a permanent rule, so it's in effect no matter what the weather is outside.

If your address ends with an odd number, you can use outdoor sprinklers on odd-numbered dates. If the address ends with an even number, sprinklers can be used on even-numbered dates.

The ordinance doesn't apply to hand-watering gardens or flower beds.

Watering on a schedule helps citywide demand

The Utilities Department said the odd-even watering schedule serves two purposes. First, it helps reduce demand on OKC's water treatment and distribution system during peak-use periods. It also helps cut back on over-irrigation.

“We know customers love to see nice green lawns, but we urge them to be mindful of how much they are watering,” Utilities Director Chris Browning said. “While we have ample long-term supply, thinking in terms of short-term availability is important as we move through the two hottest months of the year.”

Violating these restrictions is considered a breach of your user contract with city utility services, allowing the city to suspend or restrict the account on top of any fines, if issued. The first violation of mandatory water use restrictions can trigger a $100 fine. Subsequent violations can lead to a $250 and $500 fine.

If the city notices a violation, the property owner will first get a call. That usually clears up the issue, whether it's that they were unaware of the restriction or their automated sprinkler system was scheduled incorrectly.

If the issue is not resolved, a warning letter will be issued. A second complaint will trigger a second warning letter. Further violations can result in a formal citation, however the city has not written any citations for the past three years.

More: Oklahoma is using more water than ever, but not replenishing underground supplies.

Past drought conditions, a growing population and a general interest in conservation led the city council in 2013 to adopt the watering schedule for Oklahoma City and over 20 water systems that share the city's water sources.

Identical water conservation measures are also in place for surrounding communities, including Norman and Edmond. If the metro area's source of water falls below 50% capacity, additional restrictions will be put into place.

If it gets that bad, residents can only water their lawn on two designated days per week. Further restrictions will be triggered if reservoir capacity falls even further.

Lawn-watering tips to keep your yard healthy and green

In addition to making fixes and necessary adjustments to sprinkler systems, water conservation staff also recommend customers get a soil test, such as those conducted through Oklahoma State University Extension. Healthy soil provides the right amount of nutrients for grasses to thrive and helps hold in moisture, thereby decreasing the need for more watering.

More: Overwatering can damage your lawn

Most common turfgrasses in Oklahoma do not need more than one inch of water per week. Overwatering, including watering every other day, can lead to a loss of nutrients in the soil, which can lead to nutrient depletion, causing the grass to yellow. Many customers see this and believe the grass needs more water, when the reality is, it needs less.

Other water conservation tips include the following:

  • Check all sprinkler heads to ensure they are watering the grass, not the street or sidewalk.

  • Repair broken sprinkler heads.

  • Install pressure regulating heads to ensure even water distribution.

  • Water in the early morning hours when it’s still dark to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.

  • Raise the blade on your mower to at least one inch high for Bermuda grass and three inches for fescue.

  • Add a weather sensor or remote app to your irrigation system for better ongoing control.

  • Plant drought- and heat-tolerant plants that can weather Oklahoma’s extreme temperatures.

  • Install a drip irrigation system and add mulch to your flower beds and vegetable gardens to reduce evaporation.

  • If hand watering, use a nozzle with a shut-off lever to save water while not in use.

For more water conservation tips, visit squeezeeverydrop.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC lawn ordinance: Year-round law limits days residents can water grass