City of Hays

In response to a request made by the city of Hays, the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources has issued a control order restricting the watering of lawns or other vegetation from private wells from noon to 7 p.m. from June 1 through Sept. 30.

The order was signed into effect on May 26.

This measure is part of a greater interest to reduce water waste and to improve conservation practices in the area of the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Areas located in Hays.

The IGUCA in Hays was established in 1985 at the request of the city to help implement water conservation measures. It provides a mechanism to address preventable water waste by privately owned wells.

Currently, the city prohibits the following: washing sidewalks, parking lots and driveways; allowing loss of water through leaks in plumbing systems or by runoff onto sidewalks or into the street guttering from watering yards; and the watering of lawns between noon and 7 p.m. between June 1 and Sept. 30.

By restricting daytime watering of lawns, landscapes and gardens, the loss of useable water due to the effects of wind and solar affects can be reduced, thus conserving the resource for beneficial use.

All Kansans should be concerned with the conservation of natural resources, including water, and look for ways to implement improved conservation measures in our homes and businesses.