St. Cloud Asks Residents to Conserve Water

(KNSI) – St. Cloud asks residents to conserve water as Minnesota’s relentless drought continues.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced the Mississippi River watershed has dried up to the point the state has enacted its drought warning response phase. St. Cloud gets its drinking water from the river.

Starting Tuesday, August 8th, the city encourages users to limit lawn irrigation to once or twice a week. Turn off any automatic watering controls. Mulch your trees and plants to help prevent water evaporation and weed growth. Leave grass clippings in place to provide shade for the soil. Let the grass grow longer to prevent premature dying.

St. Cloud and all other water suppliers in the state are partnering with the DNR for guidance throughout the drought. The drought warning phase restricts water usage to 50% above January levels. It is the second stage of a four-tier system. The latest readings show flow remains well above the trigger point in Brainerd but falls below acceptable levels from Royalton south to St. Cloud and the Twin Cities.

For more conservation tips, current watering guidelines and easy ways to save water, click here.

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