Weber ‘water police’ cracking down on violators


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WEBER COUNTY – Mother Nature brought record-breaking rain in May, but the first couple of weeks of June have garnered high temps and dry conditions, putting water use back on everyone’s mind.

Officials from the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD) are out looking to catch residents over-watering and breaking the current watering rules.

According to the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District restrictions are as follows:

  • Water no more than two days per week, from now until June 15
  • Water no more than three days per week, from June 15 to Labor Day (Sep. 7)
  • Water no more than two days per week, from Sep. 7 to Oct. 1
  • The District does not allow outside watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“We don’t just have this endless supply of water,” said David Rice, conservation programs coordinator for WBWCD.

In the last few weeks, Rice and the other staff at the WBWCD have issued at least 90 warnings to residents and businesses for over-watering. But the total number of warnings issued has declined over the years.

“They’re aware we are out watching,” Rice said, adding that most of the warnings are issued the first weeks of June are given to first-time offenders.

“We’re often referred to as 'water police' or 'water cops,'” Rice said.

The first time a resident is caught disobeying the water restrictions he or she receives a written violation on the front door. If the same residence or business is issued a second violation, “we’ll try to make personal contact,” Rice said.

“Our goal is to educate the public,” he said.

Third-time water violators are not so lucky.

“If we notice someone isn’t responding, the consequence could be to shut off (their) secondary water,” Rice said. “Last year we had to do that twice. Luckily, this year we haven’t had to do it at all.”

The offender will have to pay a $100 fee to turn the secondary water back on, Rice explained.

The WBWCD website, www.weberbasin.com/conservation, also offers tips to “slow the flow” and keep your garden and grass green all summer long. The agency also offers a free water check program, where a representative will come to your house and help you make a specific watering plan to maintain your yard all summer.

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Nicole Vowell

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