Tracy Public Works urges residents to curb outdoor water waste, outlines watering rules

Heather, a Public Works staff member with the City of Tracy Public Works Department, urged Tracy residents to check irrigation systems and avoid outdoor water waste that she said is "common" but preventable.

She listed frequent examples: "water flowing off the sidewalk and into the street," "sprinklers spraying everything except the grass," and broken sprinklers that send "a steady stream of water into the gutter." According to Heather, most water waste in the city stems from "inefficient or improperly adjusted landscape irrigation," with overspray and runoff being the most common problems.

Heather advised routine maintenance: regularly check sprinkler heads, realign them, and "repair or replace any broken nozzles." She warned that watering longer during hot weather usually makes runoff worse because "our soil doesn't absorb water quickly," causing excess water to pool and flow into streets and storm drains.

She reminded residents that mandatory watering restrictions are in effect in Tracy and gave specific timing guidance: avoid watering on Fridays and do not water between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Heather said the city may leave a notice at properties where water waste is observed to give owners time to fix the issue, adding, "Our goal isn't fines. It's changing habits and conserving water."

Residents who observe apparent water waste were told to notify the property owner or report the problem through the City of Tracy Go Request app. Heather closed by thanking listeners for participating in conserving water for everyone in Tracy.

The advisory is informational; Heather did not cite a specific municipal ordinance or code section during the message, only referring to "mandatory watering restrictions."