Residents can now water two days a week

Phase III of the City of Porterville’s water conservation plan allowing residents to water twice a week is now in effect.

With the hotter weather in the summer, Phase III is designed to account for the increase in outside water usage that’s anticipated.

The Porterville City Council approved the switch to Phase III at its April 21 meeting. The two-a-day week watering schedule will allow odd addresses to water on Tuesdays and Saturdays and even address to water on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Phase III goes into effect this week, so odd addresses will be able to water this Tuesday. Phase III will last from June 1 until November 30.

Then in December 1, it’s likely the city will transition back into Phase IV of its water conservation plan during the winter and spring in which residents will only be allowed to water once a week on the weekends.

The City of Porterville had been in Phase IV in which odd addresses were only allowed to water on Saturdays and even addresses were only allowed on Sundays.

Watering is prohibited between the hours of 5 to 10 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. Excessive water runoff is prohibited.

The washing of sidewalks and driveways is also prohibited. Vehicles can be washed on designated water days. No watering will be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

A first violation will result in a warning, a second violation will result in a $100 fine, a third violation will result in a $200 fine and a fourth violation will result in a $500 fine.