Marion Water Department May Restrict Residential Irrigation

This weekend's watering ban advised residents to avoid irrigating their lawn while repairs were made to wells. An official from the Marion Water Department said residents took notice.

Water department director Todd Steigerwaldt said that the department may consider in the future should the continue.

He said the issue will be decided at a Marion Water Board meeting in August. It's possible that they could implement a plan where residents can only water their lawn on certain days, or where the department would have residents with certain address numbers irrigate on specific days of the week, he said.

The goal is to preserve the water level at the Jordan Aquifer, a large underground lake where Marion's water originates. The water level at the aquifer gets lower each year and as it decreases it becomes more expensive to pump water.

That's why even now, after the watering ban has been lifted, the has advised residents to conserve water usage.

"If you want to be a green person and help the environment, don't try to beat mother nature (and water the lawn) — the lawn will come back," he said.