For Immediate Release – April 29, 2009

AUSTIN - The Austin Water Utility (AWU) will implement its mandatory watering schedule beginning Friday, May 1. Residential customers with addresses ending in an odd number may water only on Wednesdays and Saturdays; residential customers with addresses ending in an even number may water only on Thursdays and Sundays. Residential customers may water their lawns anytime on these days except between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Year round mandatory outdoor irrigation restrictions for Commercial and multifamily residential water customers have been in effect since the fall of 2007. Commercial and multifamily residential customers may water only on Tuesdays and Fridays anytime except between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. AWU is requesting voluntary compliance with the mandatory watering schedule; however, flagrant and repeat offenders will face misdemeanor charges punishable with a fine of up to $2,000. Watering violations or "water waste" include watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. or on the wrong day of the week for a specific address; use of broken sprinkler heads, leaking valves, pipes or faucets; water running off property more than 50 feet; and ponding water in a street or parking lot that measures ¼ - inch or more deep. AWU encourages individuals who see suspected water waste to call 3-1-1 and report it.

If conditions get very dry, AWU may implement additional restrictions by further reducing the hours customers may water lawns and prohibiting restaurants from serving water unless it's requested. For more information, you may visit www.waterwiseaustin.com.

The Austin Water Utility serves more than 850,000 residential and commercial customers and draws from the Colorado River into two water treatment plants that have a rated combined maximum capacity of 285 million gallons per day and a storage capacity of 167 million gallons. AWU goes above and beyond the Environmental Protection Agency's protocols for safe drinking water, and it supplies some of the nation's cleanest and best tasting water.

Media Contact:
Kevin Buchman
Email to: Kevin.Buchman@ci.austin.tx.us
City of Austin Water Utility
(512) 972-0151; pgr.(512) 802-8959