New Jersey American Water Asks Monmouth County Customers To Abide By Odd/Even Schedule

New Jersey American Water is asking its Monmouth County customers to use an odd/even schedule for outdoor watering to avoid the risk of more stringent summertime water use restrictions.

“We ask our Monmouth County customers to adopt odd/even watering for lawn irrigation this summer,” said Kevin Kirwan, senior director of operations for New Jersey American Water’s Coastal Operations. “Odd/even watering now will help us manage a finite supply of water, yet our customers will still be able to maintain healthy lawns and vegetation. In past years, our customers have helped reduce water demands when we’ve asked, and we thank them in advance for their cooperation this year.”

The company suggests the following schedule:

Watering your lawn or garden should occur only on odd days of the month if your street address is an odd number (i.e., 23 Oak St., 7 Maple Ave.)

• Watering your lawn or garden should occur only on even days of the month if your street address is an even number (i.e., 6 Oak St., 354 Maple Ave.)

New Jersey American Water also suggests that lawn watering be done between 6 a. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to minimize evaporation.

These suggestions do not apply to watering of sod or newly seeded lawns if daily watering is required; planting of • Use of private wells for lawn irrigation • Commercial uses of outdoor water, such as for nurseries, farm stands, power washing, plumbing, and commercial car washes and watering of athletic fields.

“While New Jersey American is encouraging efficient outdoor water use at this time, if water demands continue to significantly increase or supplies continue to significantly decrease, formal and more strict water restrictions may be needed to ensure continued water service,” according to the company website.