The City of Spearfish has moved into a Code Green water conservation alert and is asking residents to step up efforts to conserve water.
Under the city’s Enhanced Voluntary Conservation Alert, residents are encouraged to limit outdoor watering to every other day and only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. City officials are also asking residents to reduce indoor water use and be more mindful of overall water consumption.
The conservation alert is part of Spearfish’s water conservation program, which aims to protect water resources and help reduce utility costs.
City leaders say a Code Green alert can be implemented by the Water and Wastewater Utilities Superintendent with approval from the city administrator and public works director. The Spearfish Common Council will be notified at its next regular meeting.
The city’s conservation plan includes several alert levels. A Code Blue status is the normal voluntary conservation level. Code Yellow brings mandatory watering restrictions through an even-odd irrigation schedule. Code Orange limits outdoor watering primarily to vegetable gardens and prohibits most non-essential water uses. Code Red, the highest level, is reserved for emergencies and restricts water use to health and safety needs only.
Officials also note that irrigation systems on city property are in compliance with the conservation plan, and parks and the cemetery are watered using Spearfish Creek. The restrictions do not apply to residents who use irrigation ditch water for landscaping.
Updates on the city’s conservation status will be posted in city buildings and on the City of Spearfish website.
