Dallas Code Enforcement Cracks Down on Water Wasters

Before the Friday morning sunrise, Dallas code enforcement officers Anthony Cisneros and his partner Juanita Cortez were on the prowl looking for water wasters.

They canvassed a neighborhood on Hilllview Drive in Northeast Dallas and found several homes with sprinkler systems turned on.

"They're not supposed to be watering today at all, period," Cisneros said.

"It's just shooting there, it's shooting everywhere," said Cisneros as he placed a sign that read "Oops, Water Violation" on the front lawn.

He said it just wasted water down the drain.

Cortez spotted another home where the system was watering the lawn and running down the sidewalk. She snapped a few pictures for evidence.

"I want to get the water in the picture, as well as the irrigation system that's actually going," she said.

The two have a strategic plan for their early-morning mission, to find those who are ignoring, or don't realize, the time of day and day of week requirements for sprinkler systems.

"We listen to see if we hear water running and then we pull up to the location and let it be known that we're out so we don't [get] into dangerous situations," Cisneros said.  

He said sometimes, though, the conservation quest isn't always welcome.

"We get irate citizens calling us, saying, 'Why did you put this sign? Why can't I water my grass when I want to? I'm paying the bill, this is my house, you can't tell me what to do," he said of some reactions he gets.

But under the Water Conservation Ordinance, city officials can, or at least issue, these warning signs and if the residents are caught again there's a hefty $385 fine.

"We're going to have a re-inspect set-up, and then if we catch you again then we're going to issue a citation," Cisneros told a woman who came out of a home where the sprinkler system was running.

Inspectors said residents often said they weren't aware of the restrictions so they're hoping the signs serve as a friendly reminder.

"There's nothing to replace water and it is so precious," said Dallas resident Vanessa Collins. She said she welcomes that reminder in her neighborhood and the city's push to stop wasting water.

"I think any way you can conserve water is better than not conserving at all," said Collins.

Inspectors have issued nearly 800 violation notices since Aug. 1. To avoid the fines, the city says there are specific guidelines to follow.

Online: SaveDallasWater.com