Imposing mandatory water restrictions for homes and businesses effective Sept. 5, the city of Folsom declared a water alert where homeowners will be policed into cutting waste.

The Folsom City Council will on Sept. 9 are expected to adopt enforcement measures for those who ignore new “Stage 2 Water Alert” restrictions.

A main restriction is that each residence will be limited to a particular three days of the week on which its landscape and lawn may be watered. Secondly, sprinkler systems must be shut off between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. city water-management staff, while they will not be mean guys about it, effective Sept. 5 effectively become water police, said City Councilman Andy Morin.

“Enforcement will consist of visual drive-bys, inspections and any reported violations,” Morin said. “For a first violation, we’ll issue a warning. It will be a soft-handed approach, essentially to create a spirit of conservation. Water-use is critical, but we’re confident we’re going to have a lot of compliance.”

Residents can report water-waste violations by calling 355-7252.

“Repeat violators would have a water meter installed and be billed at the metered rates,” said Mayor Eric King.

King said he wasn’t sure whether any fines would be levied.

Under the restrictions, for both manual and automatic watering, residents with even street numbers may water only on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Residents with odd-numbered addresses may water only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The city’s move follows a 25-percent cut in water deliveries by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to a number of agencies, including Folsom.

“Unfortunately, the current circumstances require that we move beyond recommendations and impose some requirements,” said City Manager Kerry Miller.

At the Empire Ranch Golf Course, one of the city’s largest water customers, general manager Sean Silva said he suspects big cuts in water use already made this summer at the golf course will satisfy city officials.

“We’ve been proactive from the beginning, when Schwarzenegger came out with his request,” Silva said. “Thus far this summer, we’ve used 71 percent compared to last summer. We’ve turned off a number of heads.”

Silva said course officials notice nearby property owners’ irrigation water running onto the golf course, and plan to encourage conservation.

“We’ll put notes on the property owners’ fences – ‘Hey, maybe you’re over-watering,’” he said.

In a related move by Folsom, concerning voluntary cuts, city officials have doubled the requested water amount that each resident save – from a request for 10 percent made early this summer to a current request for each resident to make a 20-percent overall cut in water use.

Water saving tips and additional water conservation information is posted on the city of Folsom’s Web site at www.folsom.ca.us. To report a water service problem or water break emergency after business hours or on weekends and holidays, call 985-4848. To schedule a free “Water Wise House Call” by city water-management staff, call 355-7252.

The Telegraph’s Roger Phelps can be reached at rogerp@goldcountrymedia.com, or post a comment at folsomtelegraph.com