City Crews Patrol Neighborhoods To Ensure Water Conservation

Scorching hot weather means neighbors are doing what they can to keep their lawns from losing their green. But sometimes that can mean doing too much.

OKC is continuing with its water conservation efforts. Two and half years ago, it implemented its odd-even watering program.

Neighbors can only water on even dates if they have an even address and vice versa.

The city receives calls from people reporting which homes are breaking the rules, but it also has a couple of patrol cars to drive neighborhood streets in the mornings and afternoons.

“We don’t like giving out citation right away, we like to talk to them, we will issue warnings first,” said Roger Schopf, who has patrolled neighborhoods since the program’s inception.

Schopf said people think that when there is a major rain, the program is no longer in effect.

Schopf documents the infraction with a picture and checks to make sure the home is city water.

He’ll either leave a ticket or a warning with some water conservation information.

A ticket starts at over a $100, and 110 of them have been written since the program started.

“It helps our water supplies,” added Schopf.