Things are heating up and that means the need to use water wisely is even more important.

The mercury is expected to hit 100 degrees Thursday and climb to a high of 110 degrees by Saturday.

“As we head into the summer months we encourage residents to continue to use water wisely,” Public Works Director Mark Houghton noted. “Most residents have been able to adapt their irrigation practices to keep a green lawn while still abiding by our watering standards.”

Houghton said setting sprinkler timers can be confusing but is a real key to conserving water.  Houghton said if residents need help with their sprinkler timers they can contact the City water department at (209) 456-8461. 

The city in May used 446 million gallons of water. Given the rising temperatures and the addition of almost 2,000 new residents last year, Houghton was pleased the combined water use of residents, businesses, schools, and the city itself was up just 0.5 percent from last May.

Last month’s numbers are 16 percent below 2013 use levels when were almost 8,000 less residents than the current population of 81,450.

Manteca’s water rules

The stricter water rules that were adopted for Manteca residents and businesses 37months ago are as follows:

uNo irrigation is allowed during or within 48 hours following measurable rainfall as defined by storms that generate run-off or puddles.

uNo watering is allowed on Monday or any day between noon and 6 p.m. Watering for even addresses is on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday while odd addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

uNo water will be allowed on any day at any time for washing off sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking lots or other exterior non-landscaped areas without a permit obtained from the Manteca Public Works Department office at the Civic Center.

uNo water will be allowed to flow into a gutter or other drainage area for longer than 5 minutes. All water leaks or malfunctions in plumbing or irrigation systems must be fixed with 24 hours.

Penalties include a written notice on the first violation, a $100 fine with applicable fees on the second violation that may be waived by attending a water conservation workshop; a $200 fine and applicable fees on the third violation; and $500 fines for each and every subsequent application plus applicable fees.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com