Minneapolis is now under a drought warning per the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Citywide water sprinkling restrictions go into effect Wednesday, July 21, until further notice.
The Mississippi River has reliably provided the City of Minneapolis with drinking water for over 150 years. Public Works is confident in its continued ability to produce sufficient quantities of high-quality water for Minneapolis residents. The restrictions outlined below are consistent with other metro cities and will help reduce demand on the Mississippi River during this ongoing drought. You can also find details on watering restrictions here.
Know the Restrictions
- Sprinkling lawns is NOT allowed from noon to 6 p.m. on any day.
- On calendar days that are even numbers (examples: July 26 or Aug. 18), the even side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns outside of the noon to 6 p.m. time window. Examples: 1238 Oak St. or 2574 Cedar Ave.
- On calendar days that are odd numbers (examples: July 27 or Aug. 19), the odd side of the street CAN sprinkle lawns. Examples: 1247 Maple St. or 2561 18th Ave.
Know the Exceptions
- Bushes and flowers may be watered with a hand-held hose as needed.
- Vegetable gardens and new sod (first two weeks from placement) may be watered on any day but not during the prohibited afternoon hours of noon to 6 p.m.
- Trees may be watered with a dripping hose, bucket or tree watering bag as needed.
Other Tips for Using Water Responsibly
The City also encourages residents and business owners to follow other responsible water conservation practices whenever possible. Here are some suggestions:
- Water during the coolest part of the day to avoid evaporation.
- Water grass only when it needs it. Most lawns only need an inch of water a week.
- Install low flow shower heads and faucet aerators.
- Take shorter showers using low flow showerheads instead of baths.
- Turn the faucet off while you shave or brush your teeth.
- Load dishes into the dishwasher without rinsing them.
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded.
- Fill the sink to wash dishes by hand instead of letting the water run.
- Use a large pan to clean vegetables rather than letting the water run.
- Only wash full loads of laundry.