Las Vegas winter water restrictions now in effect

Just in case the rain didn't jog your memory, the Southern Nevada Water Authority reminds you that Sunday marked the start of winter watering restrictions in the Las Vegas Valley.

Landscape watering — including drip irrigation — is now limited to one assigned day per week through Feb. 29. You can look up your assigned day online at changeyourclock.com or check your most recent water bill for information on your watering group.

There are no time-of-day restrictions on watering in the winter, but the authority recommends spacing watering times in one-hour intervals, preferably during the mid-morning hours when temperatures are above freezing to help the soil to absorb more water and avoid wasteful runoff.

The landscape watering rules were adopted by the authority in 2003 as a temporary response to ongoing drought on the Colorado River, which provides 90 percent of the valley's water supply.

Those rules were eventually made permanent.