Official: City's water supply is adequate

Even after a wave of summer heat, Carson City's water supply is holding up just fine.

"We're not even close to capacity," said Tom Hoffert, public works operations manager. "We're doing fairly good for the summer."

Demand for water so far this year has averaged 18 million gallons a day, but there was one day this year when use peaked at 22 million gallons. Capacity is 26 million, he said.

Storage capacity is 30 million gallons, and has been averaging 20 million gallons.

The city last had to enact a temporary emergency irrigation ban in June 2004, when the storage supply fell to just 20 percent of its normal level, a situation that left the city vulnerable if a fire had broken out, Hoffert said.

It effected only some west Carson residents and was stopped when storage rose to a safe level.

Water restrictions began June 1 and are in effect until Oct. 1.

Those with odd-numbered addresses will be permitted to water their lawns before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; and people with even-numbered addresses will be allotted Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Outside watering is prohibited on Mondays.

Monitors have been roaming around the city searching for customers who are violating the rules. So far, 342 customers have been watering on the wrong days, 99 have been using water wastefully, and 37 have been watering during the wrong hours, Hoffert said.

For details, call Development Services Public Works Division at 887-2355 ext. 1025.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.