Last month, the City of Ripon saved 8.7 percent in total water consumption based a numbers from a year ago.

Prior to that, the actual number for June was 8.3 percent, according to Public Works Director Ted Johnston at Tuesday’s Ripon City Council meeting.

Although those figures are a step in the right direction, he believes there’s “more we can do,” Johnston added.

Those numbers could have been better. “Last year, we were not watering (Mistlin) Sports Park,” Johnston said.

The city is trying to meet a request by Gov. Jerry Brown calling for a 20 percent reduction of water use due to the severe drought.

The city is experimenting with an outside product that, if successful, could cut down on water usage, according to Johnston.

“As for the other the city parks, we’ve taken (the watering) down to a bare minimum,” he said.

Ripon, in complying with the Water Board Resource Control Board’s recently adopted Water Conservation Regulations, repealed a portion of its water conservation plan.

Prohibited will be the use of water in hosing down driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, aprons and other exterior surfaces except for sanitation or public health and safety reasons.

Using water for rinsing off vehicles, boats, and other recreational vehicles can only be done with use of an automatic shut-off nozzle on the hose.

Watering the lawn for those living within city limits at even numbered addresses can only be done on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Those with living within city limits with odd addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m.

Repairs are required within 24 hours from the time discovered on all water leaks, breaks or malfunctions within a water user’s plumbing, distribution or irrigation system.

Draining and refilling of pools, spas and ponds can only be allowed for health, maintenance, or structural considerations, but only after approval by the Public Works Department.

The penalties will remain the same – first violation within one-year period is $25, second violation within the same span is $50, third violation during one-year period is $100, and any additional violation after that one-year period is $200.

Johnston indicated that 184 people received minor notices while six recently received their third notices. “This is their last notice before we start issuing fines,” he said.

Johnston also believes education on water conservation might be necessary for some.

A few folks are doing their part to help out during the draught.

Harrison Gibbs, for one, puts a bucket in the tub while warming up his shower. “I use this water for my potted plants,” he told elected leaders.