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YOUR LOCAL HIGH DESERT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE
Water is a precious resource in the High Desert. Efficient water use is the responsibility of all area residents, businesses and public agencies. The goal of conservation ordinances is to guide both new development and existing landscapes toward being water efficient for the public good. Generally, local landscaping ordinances find that by reason of overdraft of the water table, and with respect to the overuse (waste) of water relative to landscape irrigation, it is necessary to adopt and enforce a water conservation ordinance. Water is a resource we cannot afford to waste. The provisions of these ordinances generally prohibit water run-off from any hose, pipe, faucet, sprinkler or irrigation device. They prohibit any commercial or noncommercial watering in a manner that allows excess water to run-off. They recommend that landscape watering during the high use season (April through October) take place only during the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., except in the case of drip irrigation systems or hand watering devices. During the low water use season, watering is limited to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. These same ordinances eliminate washing down of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots or other paved surfaces. Each area ordinance varies slightly in detail. Some ordinances will include plant lists for assistance in choosing the most efficient species for High Desert planting. But each is aimed at limiting the misuse of limited water resources. Know your local regulations, and learn ways you can protect the quality of High Desert life.
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