Desert Water Agency in Palm Springs prohibits spray irrigation during daytime amid drought

Amid a multi-year statewide drought, the Desert Water Agency's Board of Directors adopted water restrictions Tuesday, including a ban on sprinkler and spray irrigation during daylight hours.

The move came a couple of weeks after the State Water Resources Control Board approved an emergency resolution requiring urban water suppliers to implement their "Level 2 demand reduction actions" by June 10.

The five-member board for the Desert Water Agency, which serves Palm Springs and parts of Cathedral City, unanimously voted for the restrictions "despite the fact that local water supplies are in good condition," according to a news release from the agency.

"DWA manages water on a long-term basis so several dry years, like we're experiencing now, don't impact the Agency's ability to deliver water to customers," the agency said in a statement. "The Agency plans decades ahead and takes prolonged drought and climate change into account."

Along with the prohibition on daytime use of sprinklers and spray irrigation, the board also adopted a restriction that requires restaurants to only serve water to patrons upon request.

California is currently in its third year of drought, with almost all of the state and much of the western U.S. in severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. drought monitor.

The drought conditions, which also prompted the State Water Resources Control Board to recently ban many local businesses and homeowners associations from watering ornamental turf, had already prompted other Coachella Valley water agencies to adopt new restrictions.

Coachella Valley Water District implemented its Level 2 actions in April, with its conservation measures including a ban on outdoor water use for spray irrigation from 10 a.m. until sunset, requiring restaurants to only serve water upon request, and increasing the turf rebate amount.

Mission Springs Water District implemented its water conservation measures June 1, including a ban on outdoor water use for spray irrigation during daylight hours, as well as an increase to its water waste patrols.

Other water agencies must implement their own Level 2 actions by June 10 in order to comply with the emergency regulation.

Previous reporting from The Desert Sun environmental reporter Erin Rode was used in this report. 

Tom Coulter covers politics and can be reached at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: DWA bans spray irrigation during daylight hours amid drought