Watering ban for Indy but not for Carmel

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard announced Wednesday a city ban on lawn watering.

The ban begins Friday and comes after Citizens Water requested a Water Shortage Warning.

The ban prohibits the watering of grass, and residents are also not allowed to wash cars, trucks, trailers, mobile homes or railroad cars. Residents can't use water to clean sidewalks, driveways or buildings. The filling of empty swimming pools is also prohibited.

Water company officials said a voluntary restriction on water usage helped but wasn't sufficient.

"Water usage still remains much higher than average and reservoir levels continue to drop," Citizens Water CEO Carey Lykins said in a news release. "Mandatory water restrictions are now necessary to maintain proper water pressure and to ensure adequate water supplies for all Central Indiana customers throughout the summer."

Further north in Carmel, there is no water shortage or watering ban.

Carmel's water comes from an underground aquifer, which is like an underground river. While city leaders say the supply is looking good, they are asking people living in Carmel to use their irrigation systems wisely. 

Meanwhile, for those residents in Indianapolis fines will in place for who decide to ignore the order.

Violators of the Water Shortage Warning face a first-offense fine of $100. Second, third and fourth violations bring greater fines.

There are a handful of water users that are exempt from the ban: nurseries, automatic commercial car washes, manual commercial car washes, golf courses, parks and customers with wells.

Residents are still allowed to water vegetable gardens and flowers with a watering container or hand-held hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle. Trees that are less than 5 years old can also be watered.