By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

At their Thursday evening meeting, Hays city commissioners unanimously approved moving out of the water watch stage and return to “normal” status — although several facets of the water conservation plan will remain in effect.

According to Utilities Director Bernie Kitten, most of the city’s wells recovered from the years-long drought following increased rainfall during the summer. The well levels are currently “well above” watch status, he said, and they won’t enter into the watch status for some time.

“Even with high usage and little to no rainfall, we won’t hit a water watch until next September,” Kitten said.

The current drought forecast released monthly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes Hays is not in a drought. It also says a drought is not likely to occur.

Commissioner Kent Steward did warn that even though the city is moving out of a watch, some of the restrictions remain in place — and said the city needs to continually remind residents of conservation efforts.

“We can’t water between noon and 7 p.m. during the summer. Water can’t escape from a property or wash down driveways,” Steward said. “Those things are always going to be there for us. What we’re removing are the more strict things we put in place because we were in a drought.”

When the city is in a watch, it cuts down on watering parks, street islands and other city properties in order to help conserve.

Commissioners do have the power to move into or out of a watch, warning or emergency preemptively based on projections. Commissioners agreed to revisit the issue in the late winter/early spring months if precipitation levels drop.

Water conservation remains a priority for the city, said Commissioner Eber Phelps.

“We always have water conservation efforts in place,” he said.