A southwest Iowa city has ordered strict water restrictions, effective immediately. The Shenandoah City Council cited low water levels in the city’s aquifers.”On about a five year average on seven out of eight wells we’re at about a 35 percent lower level than we normally are,” City Administrator A.J. Lyman said.Under Stage 3 water conservation measures, residents can only water their lawns or use hoses to water any garden, tree or shrub on Monday if they have an address ending with an even number.The same rules apply for houses with an odd-number address but on Thursday instead of Monday. All rules apply between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. or 8 p.m. to midnight. “If we’re running them too hard they could shut themselves off and we’d lose head pressure and the other wells would fight each other,” Lyman said. “It would be a cascade of bigger problems.”Cory Gordon is a Shenandoah resident and owns a floral shop downtown. As of Wednesday she isn’t concerned about the water restrictions.”We don’t use a crazy amount of water at the flower shop,” Gordon said. “I suppose down the road if it continues it could be a problem.” People can’t use water hoses to wash vehicles except at car washes. No swimming pools can be filled, and water cannot be added to pools.Lyman said the city is working on putting in long-term, shallow water wells and drought resistant wells to make sure this doesn’t happen again. That takes time and money, but they’re on their way. “Your continued assistance in water conservation could be the difference that keeps us from having to issue further restrictions as the drought continues,” Roger McQueen, Shenandoah mayor, said in a letter to residents.Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
A southwest Iowa city has ordered strict water restrictions, effective immediately.
The Shenandoah City Council cited low water levels in the city’s aquifers.
“On about a five year average on seven out of eight wells we’re at about a 35 percent lower level than we normally are,” City Administrator A.J. Lyman said.
Under Stage 3 water conservation measures, residents can only water their lawns or use hoses to water any garden, tree or shrub on Monday if they have an address ending with an even number.
The same rules apply for houses with an odd-number address but on Thursday instead of Monday. All rules apply between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. or 8 p.m. to midnight.
“If we’re running them too hard they could shut themselves off and we’d lose head pressure and the other wells would fight each other,” Lyman said. “It would be a cascade of bigger problems.”
Cory Gordon is a Shenandoah resident and owns a floral shop downtown. As of Wednesday she isn’t concerned about the water restrictions.
“We don’t use a crazy amount of water at the flower shop,” Gordon said. “I suppose down the road if it continues it could be a problem.”
People can’t use water hoses to wash vehicles except at car washes. No swimming pools can be filled, and water cannot be added to pools.
Lyman said the city is working on putting in long-term, shallow water wells and drought resistant wells to make sure this doesn’t happen again. That takes time and money, but they’re on their way.
“Your continued assistance in water conservation could be the difference that keeps us from having to issue further restrictions as the drought continues,” Roger McQueen, Shenandoah mayor, said in a letter to residents.
Read More: Iowa city orders strict water restrictions due to low water levels