CITY: Watering During Drought Could Up Bills and Hurt Firefighters

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The City of Kirkwood, which operates its own water utility company providing water service to its residents, asks residents to take care and to use restraint in watering outdoor lawns and gardens during the current heat wave.

There is no way to know how long the region’s current drought-like conditions will continue.  It is critical for public safety that water storage tanks remain full for firefighting needs.

Typically, grass watering drops significantly when customers realize the futility of trying to maintain a green lawn in the middle of a heat spell. Additionally, many residents may begin to see lower water pressure and higher-than-normal water bills if outdoor watering continues.  Therefore, the City suggests that customers cut back on all lawn watering.

The City of Kirkwood has reduced its own municipal use of water for general irrigation throughout the City, and any new tree or landscape planting that would require extensive watering has been postponed for now.

The City asks residents to do likewise for areas such as lawns and particularly automatic lawn watering systems. Water use and demand will continue to be monitored closely throughout each day by City officials. “With the City working in cooperation with residents and businesses, we will get through the drought together,” said Mike Brown, Kirkwood’s Chief Administrative Officer.

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