Carson's water: Waste not, want not

We can only hope Carson City residents understand the seriousness of a fifth year of drought.

Already this week, the city's water treatment system was overtaxed. We used 20 million gallons on Monday, but the system was capable of supplying just 19 million.

And it was the first day of summer.

Obviously, this can't go on. Carson's water managers can try to wring every available drop from its sources - diverting additional water, putting another well on line - but water is a finite resource.

We can look to the sky for help, but the only sure way to even out the peaks in usage is through conservation.

Carson City has a quite reasonable watering schedule. Every other day, even addresses on even days and odd addresses on odd days, people may irrigate their lawns between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. Nobody gets to water on July 31 or Aug. 31.

It's pretty simple, yet every day we see residents who can't seem to get it right. Let's start with them. If they could simply follow the rules, it would help conservation.

Then there are the people who simply lack common sense or a have a lackadaisical attitude about the water. We see lawn sprinklers in full bloom even on the windiest days, when most of that water is simply being blown with the breeze.

We see poorly maintained and misdirected irrigation systems running water into the gutters. We know the "water cops" are out there issuing warnings, but they won't catch everybody.

Carson City residents should pride themselves on the beautiful valley they have created from what was once a sagebrush plain. We don't want to see it wither and die from neglect, and we know that good watering habits will be sufficient to keep it that way.

But if those who choose to waste water continue to do so, and Mother Nature doesn't come through with abundant relief, the city will have little choice but to further restrict us all.