Woodstock water restrictions started Monday as drought continues for northeastern Illinois

Residents and businesses in Woodstock are only allowed to use water outdoors on certain days after city officials imposed mandatory water restrictions starting Monday as a drought continues across northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

Addresses in the city ending in even digits can only water on even-numbered calendar days, while addresses ending in odd digits can water only number on odd-numbered calendars, city officials said.

Violations by any person, firm or corporation could include a minimum fine of $75, and may face the city discontinuing water service to a property until a violation has been corrected, the city said in its notice announcing the restrictions.

“Due to drought conditions and lack of precipitation, greater water conservation efforts are crucial towards maintaining the city’s water supply system. Therefore, it is necessary for the city of Woodstock to mandate outside watering,” the city’s announcement of the watering schedule said.

Dry conditions are not expected to end any time soon, and property owners have been advised to let their lawns brown a bit instead of trying to keep watering, area officials told the Northwest Herald.

McHenry County has three kinds of aquifers it taps into, one of which is a layer of sand and gravel. When it rains or snow melts, water infiltrates down to the sand and gravel layer of the aquifer and then fills the spaces between the sand or gravel particles to create a water table.

McHenry County water resources specialist Scott Kuykendall said it is key to avoid keeping lawns green with supply from deep aquifers in the county that are only recharged in Wisconsin by waters that take can take thousands of years to infiltrate the soil and then make way toward McHenry County.