Lawns go to once-a-week watering Nov. 1, and the winter sprinkler window moves to the middle of the day

Plano's winter watering schedule takes effect Sunday, Nov. 1, cutting residents and businesses to a single day a week for lawns and landscapes through March 31.

Under the guidelines the city posted Oct. 21, the assigned day depends on the last digit of the street address:

• Odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9): Tuesdays
• Even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8): Thursdays

Homeowners associations follow the even-address schedule. The city says that is because HOA crews water common areas and, in many cases, city right-of-way that has no street address of its own. Addresses ending in zero are also on the Thursday schedule.

Hours change too

The winter rules reverse the timing that applies the rest of the year. From April 1 through Oct. 31, Plano allows sprinklers two days a week and bars them between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., the hottest part of the day.

For the winter months, the city instead asks that anyone who does need to run sprinklers do it between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., so water does not freeze on streets and sidewalks.

The city's advice is to water only when the yard needs it and only on the assigned day. It suggests shutting off automatic sprinkler systems once the weather cools and checking the forecast before watering. Residents can sign up at WaterMyYard.org for weekly recommendations on how much to water, if at all.

During the spring and summer schedule that ends Oct. 31, the city's guidelines let people water foundations, grass, shrubs and trees by hand-held or soaker hose for up to two hours on any day, allow low-flow drip systems to run as needed, and prohibit heavy runoff and watering during rain.

Property owners putting in new landscaping can ask for a variance to water it for up to 30 days; filling a pool does not require one. The variance procedures and the full guidelines are posted on the city's Watering Guidelines and Management page.

Sources

plano.gov

plano.gov