City of Lincoln asks residents to conserve water amid drought conditions

Voluntary water conservation efforts begin Friday

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The City of Lincoln is asking the community to conserve water due to “extreme” drought conditions in Lancaster County.

Liz Elliott, director of the Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department, said Thursday that residents need to work together to maintain an adequate water supply.

“It is through our collective efforts that we can safeguard our water supply for essential needs including cleaning, bathing, fire protection, health services, and waste removal, along with business and industrial uses,” she said in a press release.

Due to dry conditions, the aquifer that supplies Lincoln’s wellfield has been depleted to 65% capacity.  The Platte River flow is also the lowest it’s been since 1956, according to city officials.

Starting on Friday at 5 p.m., the city asks residents to follow the recommended schedule for using water outdoors:

• Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – Single-family households and duplexes with addresses ending in an odd number
• Sunday, Wednesday and Friday – Single-family households and duplexes with addresses ending in an even number
• Sunday, Tuesday and Friday – All other property types regardless of address.

During the summer, two-thirds of the water Lincoln produces is used for watering grass and other outdoor purposes, city officials said.

Dick Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Nursery, listed a variety of ways Lincolnites can conserve water:

• Water during the early morning hours to avoid evaporation.
• Check sprinkler systems for leaks.
• Increase mowing height to help keep moisture in your lawn’s soil.
• Adjust sprinklers to water only the lawn, not the sidewalk or street.
• Use mulch to limit evaporation and retain moisture in the soil.
• Plant drought-resistant shrubs and flowers that require less water.

Officials said the last time Lincoln issued water restrictions was when the city’s wellfield was damaged by flooding in 2019.

More information on water conservation can be found at lincoln.ne.gov/waterconservation.