By Greg Avery
Camera Staff Writer

In the future, pop artist Andy Warhol said, everyone will get 15 minutes of fame. In Boulder, each part of everyone's garden and lawn can get 15 minutes of water.

Boulder residents awoke to a new water regime Wednesday, a day after the city put new restrictions in place to conserve water in the face of a worsening drought.

• Drought and fire coverage BOULDER RESTRICTIONS Restrictions: Boulder properties will be allowed to water outside twice a week for 15 minutes in each area, and only between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. Goal: Cut water use by 25 percent. Watering zones: Thursday and Sunday — Addresses with the last two digits between 00 and 30 Wednesday and Saturday — Addresses with the last two digits between 31 and 60 Tuesday and Friday — Addresses with the last two digits between 61 and 99 may water on Tuesday and Friday — Homeowner association sprinkler systems and other common-property irrigation systems without specific addresses Violators: $50 for first offense, $100 for second offense and $300 for a third offense.

Property owners are limited to watering two days each week, and for no longer than 15 minutes in any one spot. With the watering restrictions still being developed, city officials gave more specific information Wednesday than they did Tuesday.

The city is trying to allow homeowners to get two-tenths of an inch of water on lawns and gardens twice a week. Automatic sprinkler systems typically can provide that coverage in an area in 15 minutes, said Carol Ellinghouse, city water resources coordinator.

City employees will be able to ticket violators starting June 5.

Ellinghouse said the city's normal water-use system is designed to accommodate the city's water consumption — even drought years — in 99 out of every 100 years.

"This may be that one year," Ellinghouse said.

The city's new restrictions are meant, at a minimum, to keep trees and shrubs alive throughout the city.

Without water, lawns may end up a casualty of this drought, Ellinghouse said, adding that she is letting her yard die this year.

Boulder residents seeking special dispensation from its water restrictions will have eight days to ask for a special permit for new plantings.

Ned Williams, head of city utilities, told the City Council on Tuesday that he would suspend special permit applications starting June 5.

The city is asking owners of private swimming pools not to fill them this year, but there are no plans yet to ticket anyone caught filling.

The city is asking people who wash their cars at home to use a bucket and sponge and wash them on lawns if possible.

Commercial car washes and industrial uses have not been limited by the city.

But the current round of restrictions may not be the last. If water use does not fall enough or the drought worsens, stricter rationing may be ordered.

"We're going to see how effective it is," said Jane Nelson, the public works department spokeswoman.

Anyone with questions about the restrictions is asked to call (303) 441-4220.

Anyone seeking to report the misuse of city water is asked to call (303) 441-3090.

Contact Greg Avery at (303) 473-1307 or averyg@thedailycamera.com.

May 23, 2002

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