Las Vegas ‘water cops’ keep the valley’s water leaks in check

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — Fall watering restrictions are now in full effect going from six days to three days a week. The Las Vegas Valley Water District is on patrol to ensure residents have dialed back their sprinklers and don’t have any leaks.

8 News Now rode along with the Water District’s Water Patrol, better known as the ‘water cops’, on Thursday to see how they enforce the watering restrictions and find out how residents can stay in check and avoid hefty fines.

Water Waste Investigator Devyn Choltko started her morning patrolling the south valley at around 5 a.m. on Thursday. She is part of a 23-person team that works around the clock to conserve water in the Las Vegas valley.

“We look for water waste throughout the valley. Violations would be watering on a not assigned day, the spray and flow, which is water flowing off a property, and then any sort of malfunction,” she explained. “Most of the time the reason why there is so much water waste is because you don’t see your irrigation run. So, depending on the season test your irrigation accordingly.”

During the ride along, 8 News Now came across five different homes with violations and most of them got warnings, but the fines can be steep if residents don’t fix the problem.

“For most single-family properties, they start at $80 and they double from there.”

Choltko said fixing any leaks and changing your watering clock are the easiest ways to avoid fines. You will also need to make sure you know the watering needs of grass versus plants and trees. You can water grass three days a week while plants and trees are two days a week. You will need to make sure you follow your area’s watering schedule.

Other ways to save water and on your monthly watering bill is to water early to reduce evaporation and don’t water when it is rainy or windy. Water grass on a different schedule from your plants, trees, and shrubs, and regularly check your irrigation system.

The fall watering schedule limits areas of the valley to three assigned days per week and no one is allowed to water on Sundays. These restrictions run from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.

“Las Vegas Valley Water District sets the bar in conservation and is looking for the future of my home city is really amazing,” she said.

Now there are some exemptions to the water waste restrictions like if you’re testing your irrigation system, washing your car in your driveway, or watering a new landscaping system. You can find the full list of exemptions and your area’s watering schedule here.

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