Baton Rouge Water Company, Parish Water Company, and Ascension Water Company Urge Customers to Conserve Water During the Extreme Weather

Baton Rouge, LA, Release: August 25, 2023

The Baton Rouge Water Company, Parish Water Company, and Ascension Water Company are asking customers to limit their water usage immediately due to an increased demand caused by the extreme heat paired with little to no rain.

With no end in sight of the extreme weather conditions this summer, the company is instituting its contingency plan which calls for water conservation measures.

These measures include:

  • No watering of lawns during the peak usage hours of 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It is actually an unhealthy time to water grass and plants as it can lead to fungal growth overnight.
  • If you choose to water your yard or landscaping, do so early in the morning, between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Once the sun comes up and the temperatures rise, the water evaporates and is wasted.
  • Ensure you do not water longer than necessary. Set an alarm to turn the water off. Many times, water is accidently wastefully left running all night when the water system is renewing its storage capacity.
  • Check your sprinklers to ensure water is not spraying into the street or into storms drains or gutters. Often, more than 5 minutes of sprinkler use usually only results in runoff into the street.
  • Do not water more than once or twice per week. Grass is very resilient and, if it was healthy when the drought started, it will recover when the drought ends.

"Typically, we only see the current level of demand following a hard freeze when pipes burst, and that freeze driven demand is short-lived: a few days at most. The Baton Rouge Water Company, Parish Water Company, and Ascension Water Company have always maintained adequate water service pressures, even during hurricanes, droughts and freezes. The stresses caused by the current ongoing and record-breaking heat, and the complete lack of rain, are causing never before seen high demands on the water system. With your help conserving water, we will get through this drought too," said Patrick Kerr, President.

Kerr further stated that "The water system is sound and we are presently able to maintain the required pressures, although perhaps not at the pressures to which our customers have become accustomed. However, if the demand continues to increase we may not be able to maintain the pressures many of our customers need. It is for this reason that we are encouraging the conservation efforts, and it is our sincere hope everyone will do their part to conserve water during this critical time. Water is a precious resource: please do not waste it by watering at the wrong times or more than a couple times a week."

Water company employees are working around the clock every day to maintain the water production and delivery systems.

Each company urges its customers to follow these conservation measures starting today.