Fresno County declares Stage 2 water conservation ahead of dry summer

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to move the county into Stage 2 water conservation, limiting outdoor watering in unincorporated areas to three days per week beginning June 1. Under the new rules, addresses ending in even numbers may water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; odd-numbered addresses on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. No outdoor watering is allowed on Mondays. Watering is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. year-round. Supervisor Sal Quintero, who voted yes, said the move was overdue: "We're heading into another dry summer, and the groundwater basin in the Kings and San Joaquin subbasins is under real stress." The restrictions affect roughly 90,000 residents in unincorporated Fresno County. Cities including Fresno and Clovis set their own water rules and are not directly affected. First violations bring a warning; repeat violations can carry fines up to $500.