A water shortage in Inverness has led to a ban on all outdoor watering systems, a prohibition in place as of Wednesday and to continue “until further notice,” the Inverness Public Utility District announced.
After heavy holiday weekend use, less fog than usual and a string of hot days combined with ongoing drought conditions, creek flows in town are distressingly low. Because of the meager flows, one of the district’s two holding tanks was only 30 percent full after the weekend, and despite a small gain on Tuesday, did not rise to the district’s goal of 50 percent by Wednesday, prompting the ban.
Only hand watering will be allowed; sprinklers and other time-activated watering systems are prohibited. “It could last until it rains,” said Scott McMorrow, the district’s general manager. “What we’re anticipating is the stream flows are not going to improve. So it depends on whether they can hold steady until it rains.”
If conditions do not improve, Mr. McMorrow noted, the district could move to ban all outdoor watering and, potentially, impose rationing as well as fines for noncompliance. The district supports 510 connections in Inverness.