Coon Rapids is telling residents to ease up on outdoor water use after the City Council approved extra conservation measures this week. The council adopted the changes Tuesday, and by Wednesday the city's water guidance had been updated with tighter limits. Homeowners now have to stick to the long-standing odd-even sprinkling schedule and keep irrigation in the early-morning window. City officials are also asking people to cut back on washing vehicles and paved surfaces and to shut off ornamental fountains so the system can reliably serve homes, businesses and fire protection needs.
What the City Is Asking
According to the City of Coon Rapids, the council formalized several additions to its long-running rules. Odd-numbered home addresses may water only on odd calendar days, and even-numbered addresses only on even days. Lawn and landscape irrigation that uses city water is limited to the 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. window. Exceptions apply for new sod, seed and recently planted shrubs, and the city notes that additional restrictions could be enacted if conditions get worse.
Why State Officials Want Cuts
Per the Minnesota DNR, drought conditions have expanded across parts of the state, and public water suppliers in affected watersheds are being asked to roll out demand-reduction measures. The DNR's drought overview explains the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor data and says suppliers in Drought Warning areas should aim to keep water use at or below 150% of January levels to protect drinking supplies and natural resources.
How Residents Can Help Right Now
The city is urging residents to make some practical tweaks that add up. That means moving sprinkler schedules into the 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. window, shutting off automatic cycles when rain is in the forecast, using commercial car washes that recycle water, and turning off decorative fountains that do not recirculate. The guidance also stresses checking irrigation timers, repairing leaks, and using the short-term exceptions only for newly planted lawns or shrubs, per the City of Coon Rapids.
This item is based on the City of Coon Rapids' Facebook post and the city's updated watering restrictions, and on the Minnesota DNR drought overview. See the City of Coon Rapids for the original notice and the Minnesota DNR for statewide context. Hoodline previously covered the city's odd-even rules last year; see earlier coverage of the odd-even lawn rules.
