Watering schedule changes

It's time again to fall back on lawn watering.

Beginning Saturday until November, the Southern Nevada Water Authority mandates that owners of homes and businesses limit use of lawn sprinklers and landscape irrigation systems to three days a week.

The three-day fall watering schedule for September and October is designed to conserve on outside water use just like the one-day mandatory schedule that begins Nov. 1 and runs through February.

Water used for residential lawns is the single largest use in the Las Vegas Valley, said water authority spokesman J.C. Davis.

Hundreds of millions of gallons conservatively, perhaps more than 1 billion gallons, can be saved during September and October alone by people who adjust their sprinkler schedules to three assigned days, he said.

Drip irrigation may be used any day of the week, but is limited to three days per week. Sunday is not an optional watering day.

Those caught watering outside of their assigned days or during restricted hours are subject to water waste fines from the water authority.

To find out the three assigned days for your location go to www.changeyourclock.com or look in the mail for a postcard with the schedule.

For more details on watering times and tips, go to the water authority's Web site, www.snwa.com.

"We recommend early morning hours when evaporation and wind are at their least," Davis said.