Jul 16, 2025

Stage II Water Warning declared in Russell; Big Creek flow over low head dam stops

Posted Jul 16, 2025 5:31 PM
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City of Russell

RUSSELL — The City of Russell utilizes two water sources, one of which is Big Creek.

Big Creek has stopped flowing over the low head dam immediately downstream from the city’s intake structure. This benchmark as provided within our Water Conservation Plan, moves the city into a Stage 2 Water Warning.

The City Council approved Resolution 10-25 which provides for the following restrictions in accordance with the City’s Water Conservation Plan:

1. Waste of Water is prohibited. This shall include permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch, or other surface drain, and also failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing.
2. Outdoor watering for residential and public grounds for gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, water gardens, plants, parks, golf courses and playing fields is prohibited except for one (1) day per calendar week which shall for each user be that property's sanitation pickup day as designated by the City. Watering on such day is permitted only before 10:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. If such customer has multiple sanitation pickup days in a week, then outdoor watering shall be permitted on only the first sanitation pickup day of the week for such customer. Trees, shrubs and plants held for sale by commercial and retail sellers may be watered.
3. Refilling of private swimming pools is allowed one (1) day per week after sunset on that property’s sanitation pickup day.
4. Washing of motor vehicles, boats and trailers on residential property is restricted to Saturdays only.
5. Industrial and commercial users shall not water their lawns or non-commercial trees, shrubs and plants except on property’s sanitation pickup day and then only before 10:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. Trees, shrubs and plants held for sale by commercial and retail sellers can be watered at all times.
6. Industrial customers are required to reduce their water consumption to an amount equivalent to 85% of the average use for the prior five (5) years for the month in question [i.e., sum total of consumption of the user for the month under review for prior five (5) years divided by five (5) multiplied by 85%].

We appreciate our community’s cooperation as we work together to conserve our most vital resource.

For questions regarding our current conservation status, please contact City Hall at 785-483-6311. A copy of the approved resolution and current Water Conservation Plan is located www.russellcity.org