Newcastle, Tuttle under watering ban

By Jennifer Griswold

Published: July 25, 2008

NEWCASTLE — City officials have banned all outdoor watering through 5 p.m. Sunday and are considering stricter water rationing rules once the ban is lifted.

Newcastle instituted an odd-even water rationing schedule earlier this week to help increase water pressure. The rationing didn't help because people were just watering their yards twice as much on their scheduled day, said City Manager Nick Nazar.

Because the level of the water in the city's towers wasn't rising, city officials made the decision to stop all outdoor watering through Sunday afternoon.

There was never any danger of the city running out of water, said Nazar. The level of water in the towers is just low enough that it has caused some neighborhoods to experience low water pressure. City officials also want to ensure there is an adequate supply of water and pressure to fight fires.

Tuttle residents also are under the outdoor watering ban. Since Tuttle buys most of its water from Newcastle, Tuttle residents will be required to follow the same watering rules, said interim City Manager Don Cluck.

It hasn't been determined what the new watering restrictions will be after the ban is lifted. Officials will make that determination this weekend, but rationing will have to continue until the temperatures cool down and the city gets rain, Nazar said.

"Demand really spiked beginning Sunday," he said. "The high temperatures caused people to start watering their yards."

Restrictions likely will include odd-even rationing restricted to about three hours a day and only with a hand-held water hose, Nazar said.

The city will use its mass communication system to call residents about changes. For more information about the water ban and water restrictions, call Newcastle City Hall at 387-4427.

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