Water restrictions in Madison, WI — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Madison Water Utility enforces year-round odd-even sprinkling rules under MGO 13.18. Watering is prohibited between noon and 6 PM. Drought advisories can trigger stricter limits or bans.
Madison Water Utility draws from 22 deep sandstone wells (not Lake Mendota or Monona, which are surface lakes under the Great Lakes Compact). Under MGO 13.18 and administrative rules, residents and businesses may only sprinkle lawns on odd-numbered calendar days if their address ends in an odd digit, and even days if it ends in an even digit. Watering is prohibited daily between 12 PM and 6 PM year-round to reduce evaporative loss. Hand watering with a shut-off nozzle, drip irrigation, and new sod or seed watering within the first 30 days are exempt. During drought or water emergency the utility can declare voluntary or mandatory restrictions, including full sprinkling bans, with 24-hour notice. Automatic irrigation systems must have functioning rain sensors per MGO 13.18(8). Waste of water (runoff onto pavement, broken heads) can be cited at any time.
First violations are warnings. Subsequent forfeitures range from 109 to 439 dollars plus possible shut-off for egregious waste.
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