Riverhead asks residents to water lawns on alternating days

The Riverhead Water District is asking residents to only water their lawns on alternating days to help conserve the town’s water supply.
The plan calls for residents with odd street numbers to only water lawns on odd calendar days, and for residents with even street numbers to water their lawns on even calendar days. Riverhead Water District Supervisor Gary Pendzick also recommends watering lawns before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Doing so, he said, could save a household 300 gallons of water per month.
High temperatures and sparse rainfall have depleted the town’s water supply, which as of last week was at dangerously low levels. Mr. Pendzick said that if the town’s five water tanks are low there might not be enough water for firefighters to battle a blaze.
“I am asking our citizens to cut back on water consumption for the good of our community and appreciate their cooperation during this emergency,” said Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter.
During last week’s heat wave, Mr. Pendzick asked all residents to stop watering their lawns completely.
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