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 and other vegetation from private wells between noon and 7 p.m. from June 1 through Sept. 30.

The order was signed into effect on April 6.

This measure is part of a greater interest to reduce water waste and to improve conservation practices in the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area (IGUCA) located in Hays, Kansas.

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 of Hays prohibits the following: the washing down of sidewalks, parking lots and driveways; the known loss of water through breaks or leaks in plumbing systems and the escape of water from private property onto public property such as sidewalks or into the street guttering from landscape irrigation; in addition to outdoor water use between noon and 7 p.m. from June 1 through Sept. 30.

By restricting daytime outdoor water use, including the watering of landscapes and gardens, unnecessary water loss due to wind and evaporation can be reduced, thus conserving the resource for more efficient use.

All citizens are encouraged to practice the conservation of natural resources, including water, and look for ways to improve conservation measures in our homes and businesses, both indoors and out.