tool name

Thursday, Sep. 10, 2009

Tip List: Park watering raises question from resident

There's a drought on -- the third drought year in a row, if you haven't been paying attention.

Because of the water shortage many cities, including Merced, have imposed water conservation rules.

For instance, if homeowners or anyone else waters their lawn in the middle of the day -- from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- they can be fined. According to the city, "Water conservationists from the city of Merced are patrolling the city and will enforce the rules. Violations could result in fines ranging from $50 to $150."

Oh my!

But a tipster, Patti Patton, was driving by Burbank Park on East Olive Avenue recently and the sprinklers were blasting water in the midday heat. It was just after 11 in the morning and Burbank Park was being watered like storm clouds were on their way to replenish the water table.

"I thought we were in a drought situation," she wrote in an e-mail to the Sun-Star. "Evidently, the city does not have the same rules as the citizens of Merced regarding water."

When the Sun-Star sent a photographer to the park to see if this midday lawn watering still going on, we found that it was. At 11:15 a.m. the park's sprinklers were pumping out enough water for a Slip 'n Slide party.

So, do the city's water conservation rules apply to the city as well as its residents?

Mike Conway, the city's spokesman, said there isn't a double standard. If you are seeding a new lawn, as the city is doing at Burbank Park, you get an exemption from the watering rules.

"We try to be good role models because if we are going to hold our water users to one standard, we try to maintain that standard," he said.

Conway said he's reported city properties when they are watering during the day. Most of the time when daytime watering occurs, it's because someone forgot to set a timer or equipment has broken, he said.

Overall, said Conway, the city uses far less water than do residents. In August, for example, the city paid more than $22,000 for its water needs, while residents of Merced paid more than $800,000 collectively.

If you see a city property being watered at the wrong time of day, call Merced's Department of Public Works at (209) 385-6800.

What is wrong: A tipster says the city is watering its property during the hottest part of the day, while citizens can be penalized for doing the same thing.

Who is at fault: the city, but it says since it's seeding a new lawn, Merced, like everyone else, gets an exemption.

Tip off the tip list!

If you see something broken or in need of repair in your neighborhood, call the Sun-Star Tip List reporter, Jonah Owen Lamb, with your tips at (209) 385-2484 or e-mail jlamb@mercedsun-star.com.