Help Conserve Water In Ankeny

Press release from the City of Ankeny:

July 13, 2020

Due to the current extremely hot and dry conditions, the daily water usage within the City of Ankeny is at record levels. This high usage has the potential to cause surcharge penalties in accordance with the City’s capacity agreement with the Des Moines Water Works. The City of Ankeny is taking steps to reduce water usage at our facilities, and is requesting our residents to also reduce water usage according to the City of Ankeny Water Conservation Plan.

The Water Conservation Plan includes four stages, with each stage instituting progressive steps to further reduce water usage. At this time, the City is initiating Stage 1. Please be aware that lawn irrigation is by far the largest percentage of residential and commercial water usage during dry weather conditions.

Actions that the City of Ankeny is taking to meet the Stage 1 reduction targets include:

• Suspend hydrant flushing by the Fire Department.
• Eliminate all irrigation at city facilities except the new Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library and the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex.
• Reduce irrigation on the new sod at the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library to the minimum needed to preserve it.
• Reduce irrigation at the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex to the minimum needed to maintain safe playing surfaces on the athletic fields.

Actions that the City of Ankeny is asking of our residents and businesses to meet the Stage 1 reduction targets include:

• Reduce lawn irrigation according to the schedule below.
• Encourage wise use of water indoors including timely identification and repair of leaking fixtures, washing only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines, shorter showers, etc.

Regarding lawn irrigation, we are asking residents and businesses to follow the alternate day irrigation schedule as shown below. The recommended outdoor irrigation schedule applies to all spray irrigation systems for businesses and homes:

• Watering is not recommended on Mondays
• Even-numbered addresses are encouraged to water on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
• Odd-numbered addresses are encouraged to water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
• Watering is not recommended during the hottest part of the day – between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

With your cooperation by following the above measures, we anticipate that usage can be reduced enough to avoid further water restrictions. On behalf of the City of Ankeny, your cooperation is very much appreciated.

This press release was produced by the City of Ankeny. The views expressed here are the author’s own.