With winter's end still many days away from melting off the calendar, one Twin Cities suburb is clamping down on water use in anticipation of a flood of high demand.
New Brighton over the weekend cited preventive maintenance on two of its four deep wells and unseasonably warm weather for putting the following restrictions in place:
Residents are not permitted to water lawns and other foliage from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and must follow an odd/even sprinkling ban based on street address. Also, citizens are indefinitely banned at their residences from filling swimming pools and washing cars.
City officials noted in a statement there "is a possibility the demand for water may outpace the pumping capacity of the remaining functioning wells." City Manager Dean Lotter said he hopes to ensure that an adequate supply of water will continue to be available for basic needs and fire protection. Staff will continue to monitor pumping capacity, and conservation measures will continue to be adjusted in response to rain and demand for water.
Paul Walsh
