More water restrictions as Marin's drought worsens

Faced with extreme drought conditions throughout the county, the Marin Municipal Water District is imposing more mandatory water-use restrictions, including limits on how often residents can irrigate their lawns.

The district at its May 4 meeting voted unanimously to limit drip-irrigation to three times a week and spray irrigation, such as sprinklers, to twice a week. It also mandated covers for swimming pools and hot tubs to prevent evaporation and adopted a $100 rebate for pool covers.

The new restrictions were approved about two weeks after the district imposed a host of limits on water use throughout the county — the first mandatory restrictions imposed since 1988.

Those restrictions, approved April 20 and already in effect, prohibit watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.; washing driveways and sidewalks; watering grass on public medians; refilling or topping off decorative water fountains; and using potable water to control dust, flush sewers or clean streets. The restrictions also limit golf-course irrigation to greens and tees unless a variance is obtained from the district; that provision goes into effect May 20.

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