By Greg Avery
Camera Staff Writer

Boulder announced Thursday that it will not issue permits for special outdoor watering needs that would have made some residents or businesses exempt from new water restrictions.

On Wednesday, the city began limiting each property to watering outside twice a week on assigned days only. Anyone violating the restrictions will be subject to fines starting June 5.

The restrictions also bar people from watering between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on their assigned day.

Residents are allowed to water for 15 minutes in each spot on their assigned days.

The city originally planned to offer exemptions for people with special needs, such as new landscaping that requires more water to take root.

Utilities Director Ned Williams said Thursday that he had changed his mind and the city would not be issuing any exemptions.

"We've been trying to clarify our message, and it's evolving every day," he said.

The news was not good for Cory Oreck, whose family lives at the west end of Alpine Road and has a 2-acre orchard on the property.

"This is not your typical yard," Oreck said.

Before Thursday's announcement, she said she was considering applying for an exemption to water 100 apple trees and some plum and cherry trees that are nearly 80 years old.

In normal years, the family could use some irrigation ditch water from the Silver Lake Ditch, but none has been available so far this year.

After hearing that she could get no exemption, Oreck said she would live by the city's rules and hope for the best.

"We're trying to restore the old orchard, and now it's going to be tough," she said.

Worsening water-storage conditions prompted the decision against granting some exemptions.

From a water planners' perspective, ensuring that water remains in city reservoirs come February trumps the water needs of thirsty new landscaping or an urban orchard, Williams said.

City reservoirs in the mountains are half-empty at a time when they're normally full. Boulder Creek measurements at Nederland — above Barker Reservoir, the city's largest mountain storage property — show that the alpine watershed has passed its peak runoff, the lowest on record.

Without reducing Boulder's average summer water use by 25 percent, the city could run out of water in the winter.

The city is considering relaxing the 15-minute time restraint for water-conserving drip systems that irrigate landscaping slowly, Williams said.

He is urging people to put off major landscaping projects.

"People need to figure out how to live by it," Williams said. "We each have to do our part."

For more information about the city's water restrictions, call the city hot line at (303) 441-4420.

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

May 24, 2002

E-mail this story to a friend | Printer-friendly version