Like all cities, Sulphur experiences water pressure fluctuations during peak user times. Conserving water will not only help alleviate our pressure concerns—It’s good for the environment and healthy for the earth. So let’s all do our part to help! It’s the right thing to do for yourself, your family and your community.

Please understand that our water supply—the amount of water available from the Chicot Aquifer- is plentiful. It is the demand for water at peak times of the day (later afternoon and evening) that causes water pressure in our system to decrease.

Before arriving at the customer’s tap, water has been treated above safe drinking water standards and pumped through a series of storage tanks. Increased demand of water makes it difficult for those tanks and pumps to maintain volume and system pressure. During peak periods, lower system pressure can develop.

This varying water pressure is a major threat to fire-fighting efforts in Sulphur. In extreme cases, low water pressure greatly increases the risk of contamination of our water system.

It’s time to play it SAFE……….

This program is dedicated to educating everyone in our City about the water conservation ordinance, the watering schedule , and water conservation in general.

  • Watering by automated water system and sprinklers is the number one cause of water pressure problems and the watering schedule can alleviate this problem. Here are a few tips for proper lawn maintenance: Experts agree that your lawn needs only one inch of water per week to remain green and healthy.
  • Watering should be done on infrequent but deep watering cycles of one inch at a time. To measure, simply place an empty tuna can in the path of your sprinkler and water until the level in the can reaches on inch.
  • Consider buying a sprinkler timer. These are very cost-efficient and practical. You set the timer and watering is done automatically, you don’t have to worry.
  • New water after 2:00 p.m.. Water evaporates extremely quickly in the heat of the day, essentially wasting your efforts.
  • Purchase a rain gauge to always be aware of how much water your lawn is getting.
  • Always turn irrigation systems off during rainy days and for several days after a good soaking rain.
  • Never leave a garden hose running. A running hose can produce up to 600 gallons of water usage in just a few hours.
  • Keep lawns and shrub beds well weeded. Weeds will steal water from other plants.
  • Mix polymers such as peat in with planting soil in shrub beds. These will help retain soil moisture.

 

It’s not just your lawn, it’s the law

The following schedule has been developed to assist our customers in adhering to the water conservation ordinance. EACH DESIGNATED DAY ALLOWS FOR 14 HOURS OF WATERING TIME.

Time: Water between the hours of midnight and 2:00 p.m.

Odd-numbered addresses water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Even-numbered addresses water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.


We hope everyone follows this program, but there are some consequences for those who do not. Penalty provisions for not adhering to the watering schedule will be as follows:

  • First Offense—written warning
  • Second Offense—$50 fine
  • Third Offense—$100 fine and publication of name in a legal journal
  • Fourth Offense—$200 fine and publication of name in a legal journal
  • Fifth Offense—$500 fine and publication of name in a legal journal

Fines will be added to the offender’s utility bill and enforced by the Public Works Dept.

 


Associated Documents