The City of Ripon switches to its winter watering schedule today.

Under the Water Conservation Ordinance, all properties within the City of Ripon with even-numbered addresses will be on Saturday-only watering schedule.

Those with odd-numbered addresses – within city limits –will be allowed to water their landscape on Sundays only.

No watering will be allowed between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No irrigating of ornamental landscapes during or 48 hours following measurable rain fall.

As for fines and penalties, those not following the prescribed watering schedule measures would initially be assessed with a written warning.

First-time violators within a one-year period would receive a $50 fine. Second- and third- time violators within that same one-year stretch would be fined $100 and $200, respectively.

Additional fines for those in violation after that third time would be assessed $400 within that same one-year period.

Since March, residents had been on a three-days-a-week schedule on irrigating their landscape.

Director of Public Works James Pease provided a report at the Oct. 10 Ripon City Council meeting on residents in violation of the watering schedule in August.

Included were 87 residents – Pease said staff made contact with all 87 – with 68 watering on the wrong day or time.

Pease noted that 19 received warnings on water leaks, with five penalties being issued that month.

For more information or penalties for those in violation of the water conservation ordinance, log on to www.cityofripon.org/residents/city.