Erie’s Stage 2 water restrictions, asking residents and HOAs in the town to voluntarily only water two days per week, have appeared to pay off.
From April through June, Erie used about 475 million gallons of water, “roughly 54 million gallons less than the five-year average rate,” a Monday announcement from the town says.
Town officials began encouraging a voluntary two-day-per-week watering schedule after a directive issued in late March — urging the public to keep sprinklers completely off — was lifted. The Town Council in May declared a Stage 2 drought response, “formalizing” those voluntary restrictions.
Erie recorded just 7.26 inches of precipitation through June, “the driest start to a year in more than a decade,” says this week’s announcement. “Dry years normally push water use to rise even higher. This year, you pushed it down. June use averaged 180 gallons per resident per day, 21% below the last comparably dry June, in 2024.”
The town is asking that residents stick to the two-day-per-week watering schedule through July and August, which, the announcement adds, “are Erie’s highest-demand months.” Even-numbered addresses are asked to water on Monday and Thursday, and odd-numbered addresses to water on Tuesday and Friday. An optional third watering day on weekends would be announced if town staff determine additional watering is necessary based on weather conditions.
Town officials have reiterated that watering should occur only between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Erie is also touting two programs to help “conserve” water, including a free “Slow the Flow sprinkler” evaluation, at resourcecentral.org/sprinklers, for “a customized watering schedule and efficiency check.”
Up to $2,000 can be earned through the town’s Turf Replacement Rebate Program by swapping “thirsty grass for water-wise landscaping,” the town’s announcement adds. “Just be sure to get your design approved before breaking ground.”
Details on the turf program can be found at www.erieco.gov/1962.