Manteca may not reduce the number of days it is OK for businesses, residents, and government agencies to water landscaping from three to two days a week.

Staff is recommending that the City Council not move to cutback allowable irrigation to just two days a week when they meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., to consider additional water conservation moves. 

Lawn irrigation accounts for roughly 60 percent of all water  use in Manteca. 

Manteca is under a state mandate to reduce waster use by 25 percent during the lingering severe drought.

Water Division staff is concerned cutting back to two days a week could put stress on the system and reduce water pressure in many areas of the city. They also believe many residents and businesses would simply increase their watering time if only two days were allowed each week to irrigate landscaping to effectively wipeout any potential for water savings.

The City Council in October reduced the number of watering days from, four to three.

The watering rules now in place:

• Ban all outdoor watering on Mondays.

• Odd-numbered businesses and residential street addresses are allowed to water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday but not between noon and 6 p.m.

• Even numbered businesses and residential addresses are allowed to water Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday but not between noon and 6 p.m.