A key battle was won this morning in what cable-news commenters might call the War on Sprinklers: The Dallas City Council just voted 13-2 to permanently limit sprinkler use, either by hose or by automatic system, to two days per week, in what can only be seen as a huge victory for the hand-held water-bucket lobby.
Councilwomen Sandy Greyson and Ann Margolin voted no, representing the North Dallas "But Our Lawns Are Just So Dang Pretty" voting block. But with the area's population booming and Mother Nature not exactly cooperating rain-wise, fear of dying of thirst won out in the end.
"Our stewardship for the resources we have in this city is one of the most important things we do," Mayor Mike Rawlings said just before the vote. "It's easy when there's a drought, and when there's not a drought we don't care about it."
Rawllings and other area mayors have been pushing for the change in recent weeks.
"We have gone to a lot of sprinkler systems; we're a hotter place to live, and it's an inefficient way to water," he said. "You've got the process in place to do things that aren't stupid."
The new ordinance allows watering cans, hand-held hoses, soaker hoses and drip systems.
"I'd love to see a few people hand-water in their front yards," Rawlings said. "Maybe there'd be a little quiaintness brought back to Dallas."
Here's the briefing council members received about the conservation program:
