June 2009
U.S. Water News Online
SACRAMENTO (AP) — As California faces a third summer of drought. Sacramento is imposing new rules on watering lawns and washing cars. The city has among the highest per-person water consumption in the nation. Residents will be banned from watering lawns during the day, when evaporation rates are highest. Previous rules allowed watering before noon.
It will also be illegal to wash a car without a shut-off nozzle on the hose. And cars can be washed and lawns watered only on alternate days.
Officials say the rules are similar to those in other California cities.
Sacramento residents use about 280 gallons of water per day, compared to the statewide average of 192 gallons. About 65 percent of the water is poured on lawns.
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