Afternoon water restrictions go into effect on Saturday

Friday, April 30, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.

Starting Saturday, it is illegal to run lawn sprinklers in the Las Vegas Valley from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The restrictions are in place because watering during the hottest part of the day causes much of the water to evaporate before it is absorbed into the desert soils at homes and businesses, Tracy Bower, spokeswoman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said.

Watering during the restricted hours from May 1 until Oct. 1 is considered water waste, which may result in a water-waste fine.

Hand-watering is allowed if a person is attending the hose, Bower said.

"You can't just turn the hose on and leave it running," she said.

"Daily watering really isn't necessary in May," Bower said. Three or four days a week should be sufficient until hotter summer temperatures become the norm, she said.

Since daylight-saving time began April 4, sprinkler timers should be checked to make sure they are properly set.

To keep landscapes healthy, water grass before sunrise when it is cooler and there is less wind. Water three times a day, four minutes per watering. Watering in three short cycles, set an hour apart, helps the soils absorb more water than one long watering.

Set lawn mowers to 2 1/2 inches in height because taller grass shades soil and roots from heat and sun.

On windy days, shut off sprinkler systems to avoid wind from carrying water away.

Check irrigation clocks and sprinkler heads after each mowing, so broken or twisted sprinkler heads can be repaired for even water distribution.

For more information, visit the water authority's Web site at snwa.com or call the Conservation Helpline at 258-SAVE.