Summertime is when demand for water typically peaks due to lawn watering and other outdoor activities. With the recent prolonged heat wave, water usage in Plymouth has risen significantly – and the city reminds residents and businesses to adhere to Plymouth’s outdoor water use restrictions.

Plymouth has restrictions on outdoor water use from May through September. Restrictions include an odd-even schedule and a midday ban.

Plymouth prohibits outdoor lawn watering from noon to 5 p.m. on all days. At other times, water customers must follow an odd-even schedule when sprinkling lawns.

Homeowners and businesses with addresses ending in an odd number may water on odd numbered calendar days. Those with addresses ending in an even number, may water on even numbered days. The restrictions apply to all city water customers. Automatic irrigation systems should be adjusted accordingly.

Water restrictions help protect the city’s equipment, as well as Plymouth’s underground aquifers and wells by giving them time to recharge during peak demand.

City water customers may wash vehicles and do hand-held hose watering of shrubs, flowers and trees on any day and at any time if the hose has a nozzle with automatic shutoff.

Residents with new sod, seed or landscaping do not need to follow the odd-even restrictions during the first 30 days after planting. However, they must still abide by the midday ban from noon to 5 p.m.

The restrictions do not apply to people who use sources of water other than the city water system.

Organizations that need to irrigate turf to prevent damage due to frequent use may submit a written request for an exemption by emailing engineering@plymouthmn.gov.

The restrictions also make an exception for residential users who intermittently use their outdoor water system exclusively for recreational use, such as children running through a sprinkler.

For more information about water restrictions and conservation, visit plymouthmn.gov/watering.