BROWNSBURG — The Town of Brownsburg declared a water emergency today and issued a mandatory restriction on the use of water for non-essential purposes, including a ban on lawn watering. The restrictions will be implemented on July 16 and will apply to all Brownsburg municipal water customers.
Town officials issued a voluntary request for water conservation in mid-June due to the high heat and extended lack of rain.
The mandatory watering ban will be in effect until the amount of rainfall and cooler temperatures allow Brownsburg’s water towers to maintain adequate levels.
An exception will be allowed for businesses that rely on water, such as nurseries and car washes, and Brownsburg School’s in-season athletic fields. The town will also allow limited watering of flowers, vegetable gardens, trees younger than 5 years old, and recently installed sod. Customers are asked to water those only by container or hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle.
Town Manager Grant Kleinhenz said, “While we’ve seen some improvement from the voluntary conservation request, there is very little chance for significant rain in the next two weeks and our water towers are nearing levels that raise concern. The mandatory water restrictions are necessary now to maintain proper water pressure for customers and firefighting activities.”
Brownsburg water customers should be aware that the following are prohibited under the mandatory restriction: Sprinkling, watering, or irrigating of grass; washing cars, trucks, trailers, and mobile homes except at commercial car washes; using water to clean sidewalks, driveways, paved areas, structures, buildings, or other outdoor areas; filling empty swimming pools; installing new landscaping or new lawns by using sod until return to normal conditions are declared by the town; using hydrants except for fire suppression; and operating water fountains that are non-recycling.
Brownsburg municipal code allows for a fine up to $300 for any instance violating the emergency water usage restrictions.