April 26, 2024
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Cary latest McHenry County town to restrict outdoor water use because of continuing drought

Village warns worsening conditions could lead to additional limitations on water use

By Cassie Buchman
Lower water levels are seen on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake. The park had issues with flooding much of last summer.

Lower water levels are seen on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake. The park had issues with flooding much of last summer. (Matthew Apgar)

Joining other municipalities in McHenry County, the village of Cary will limit some outdoor water uses because of the ongoing drought.

Starting Monday, the use of lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems connected to Cary’s public water supply will be allowed only between the hours of 6 and 10 p.m., according to a news release the village sent out Friday. Other outdoor uses, including hand-watering gardens and washing personal vehicles, will remain unrestricted.

If drought conditions warrant additional measures, this could lead to further limitations on water use, the village warned.

Cary’s Public Works Department has been monitoring groundwater aquifer levels and overall customer demand as the drought continues to affect McHenry County.

Drought conditions have caused water levels in McHenry County’s wells to be at some of the lowest levels they’ve seen in years.

This doesn’t mean the area is going to run out of water in the future, as McHenry County water resources specialist Scott Kuykendall told the Northwest Herald previously, but the dry weather has been a concern for area farmers and public entities are trying to educate residents about the drought.

Other towns that have restricted water use include Crystal Lake, Woodstock and Algonquin..

“When we’re in a drought, people should let their lawns go dormant as opposed to trying to keep watering,” Kuykendall said. “When we get rain again, it’ll come back.”