RAPID CITY, SD — Residents will need to endure yet another bout of early irrigation restrictions following worrying continued drought conditions in the hills, according to word from Rapid City officials at a press conference in Sioux Park this morning.

These restrictions come in light of reports from Pactola Reservoir regarding low total capacity and a lack of winter precipitation or snowpack, assigning “concerned” conditions following a report from the National Weather Service which predicts continued dry, hot conditions as the year progresses. “The entire region has been experiencing less-than-average precipitation for over a year,” said Water Superintendent Eric Boyda. “There doesn’t appear to be any relief in sight this spring and summer, which has led us to the decision to implement water conservation measures much earlier than usual. We appreciate the efforts and cooperation of community residents during this challenging time.”

The restrictions primarily affect outdoor irrigation, limiting watering to between 6pm and 9am to minimize evaporation, and only allowing watering on even-numbered days for even addresses, and odd-numbered days (excluding the 31st of the month) for odd addresses. This is limited to automated systems, and “hand watering” (such as with a hose or watering can) will still be permitted.

“This prevents us from having everyone trying to water at the same time, and allows us to build a smaller system and keep our water rates lower,” said Boyda. Waivers will be available to those with fresh mulch or larger landscapes, which will allow them to schedule a two-phase watering schedule with the city, to keep water usage lowered.

Though not required, Boyda additionally suggests residents take measures to ensure effective use of water, such as adjusting sprinklers to avoid sidewalks, leaving grass longer to avoid increased demands for moisture during regeneration, investing in a rain sensor which will prevent irrigation if rain has recently occurred, and limiting irrigation to the morning, due to aforementioned evaporation issues which come with the hotter hours.

Recent instances of high heat and continued drought has been credited largely to a sharp and anomalous increase in global temperatures, since around the start of the 20th century, which has been verified by researchers over the past fifty years.