BY JOSH SOLSO
[email protected]

As California falls further into its state of drought, Roseville Joint Union High School District administration is taking further measures to ensure that they meet the restrictions that have been put in place.

RJUHSD now has a goal of 35 percent water reduction, which is up 10 percent from the restriction put in place last spring of 25 percent water reduction.

In response to these mandates, RJUHSD is attempting to ensure that no further costs will incur onto their bill. All watering will start at 8:00 p.m. and need to end before 6:00 a.m., and no watering can occur between 2:00 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Athletic fields on campuses can be watered a maximum of four times a week. For interior and fronts of sites, they can be watered only up to twice a week.

RJUHSD assistant director of maintenance and operations Kris Knapp stresses that now the district must prioritize tackling the problems that come up at these sites as soon as they occur.

In recent months, there have been no drought-related irrigation breaks, the only repairs that occurred were to water pipelines and irrigation systems which were caused by regular wear and use.

“Breaks occur regardless of how much we water or how often,” Knapp said. “The pipes get old and wear out, the sprinkler heads wear out, so we didn’t really incur any new repair costs. We are making repairs maybe quicker than we would in the past.”

The maintenance department placed signs encouraging neighboring houses of Roseville High School and RHS staff to communicate with the maintenance office if they see such things as: water running on the concrete, broken sprinkler heads, or flooded areas.

Any measured rainfall exceeding one inch will stop irrigation for the following week.

“I anticipate that the current watering restrictions will remain in place until April or May,” Knapp said. “At that time, based on the actual amount of snow and rainfall we receive, the restrictions will be adjusted up or down.” Knapp said. “The pipes get old and wear out, the sprinkler heads wear out, so we didn’t really incur any new repair costs. We are making repairs maybe quicker than we would in the past.”

The maintenance department placed signs encouraging neighboring houses of Roseville High School and RHS staff to communicate with the maintenance office if they see: water running on the concrete, broken sprinkler heads or flooded areas.

Any measured rainfall exceeding one inch will stop irrigation for the following week.

“I anticipate that the current watering restrictions will remain in place until April or May,” Knapp said. “At that time, based on the actual amount of snow and rainfall we receive, the restrictions will be adjusted up or down.”