City of Clovis to Consider Cutting Back Outdoor Watering Days

Clovis residents may soon see changes on how many days they can water their lawns–two days per week instead of three.

Early this month, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a statewide water reduction of 25 percent; but the state identified some cities, including Clovis, as high water  users.

Now, the City of Clovis may be ordered to reduce their use by as much as 35 percent.

Next Monday, the Clovis City Council will consider cutting back on watering days to meet the target reduction.

"We’ll be recommending probably that we go down to two days per week, maximum," said Lisa Koehn, assistant director of the City of Clovis Public Utilities Department. "And then in the winter months, it’ll probably be recommended that they go down to one day per week."

Clovis resident Bob Baker is ahead of the game. He’s been conserving water for many years.

"to me, water uses too much water, so I took all my grass out," Baker said.

Now, junipers cover his front yard. Bark under the shrubs help minimize the amount of water the junipers need.

"It keeps it moist under there, so that’s why I’m able to water just once a week," Baker said.

He is conserving water throughout his house. In the backyard, instead of grass, "There’s about 8 tons of rock back here. Eight tons of rock," Baker said.

For him, water conservation is detailed. He forms rings around the trees with bricks.

"That keeps the water in so it doesn’t spread out and waste anything," Baker said.

Fewer watering days would not inconvenience Baker.

But with many lush, green lawns in Clovis neighborhoods, the proposed changes may be a hard adjustment to make.

Clovis residents Dave and Bobbie Aguirre said they’ll deal with any changes if it means helping to conserve water statewide.

"We’ve lived in the country before. We know what it’s like to have to borrow water from our neighbors. It (restrictions) may be necessary," said David Aguirre.

"I’d like to be able to at least keep the plants and the trees alive because that’s a big investment," said Bobbie Aguirre. "But if we have to let the lawns go, it wouldn’t bother us."

The public utilities department will also propose penalties without warnings for violations such as letting water runoff, having broken sprinklers, and watering outside the scheduled days.