LAS VEGAS — Nevada is on track to use the lowest amount of water since the late 1990s, but the Southern Nevada Water Authority is reminding residents that winter water restrictions are still in place.

Under the restrictions, which begin Wednesday and run through February 29, residents and businesses are limited to watering their landscapes on one assigned day per week. Watering on days other than your assigned watering day, or allowing water to spray or flow off your property, is considered water waste and may result in hefty fees starting as high as $80 and increasing for repeat violations.

The SNWA is offering some best practices to help the community save water and better manage monthly bills:

• Irrigate grass 12 minutes total per day in three cycles of four minutes each, set one hour apart, to avoid waste and runoff.
• Water trees and shrubs deeply and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
• Avoid watering during the heat of the day, when evaporation is highest.
• Fix any leaks promptly.
• Install water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
• Consider planting drought-tolerant plants in your landscape.

“Saving water continues to be crucial for our community,” the SNWA said in a news release. “The past wet winter combined with lower water demands to raise Lake Mead water levels by more than 20 feet this year. However, it’s important to know that one good year of favorable hydrology will not reverse the decades-long drought along the Colorado River — Lake Mead levels are still down more than 140 feet.”

For more information on winter water restrictions and water conservation tips, visit the SNWA’s website.

Credits: KTNV