Columbus Dispatch Article
Published Online, 05/04/2026 @ 6:06am
By: Anna Lynn Winfrey

Columbus-area water district implementing mandatory water restrictions

Key Points

• Jefferson Township Water and Sewer District has enacted mandatory outdoor watering restrictions from mid-May to mid-October to meet high summer water demand.
• Watering is now limited to specific days based on the last digit of customers' addresses and is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• The district will issue a warning for the first violation, with subsequent fines ranging from $100 to $500.
• Customers can receive a $100 water bill credit for purchasing a rain barrel to water outdoor plants.

Jefferson Township Water and Sewer District is implementing mandatory restrictions on outside watering – including fines for violators – to ensure its water system can handle increased demand during the summer months.

Albert Iosue, director of the district, told The Dispatch that the board has been talking about implementing such restrictions for years. After two years of asking customers to voluntarily comply with outdoor watering restrictions, and at times having to purchase additional bulk water from neighboring water systems, Iosue said these regulations were implemented proactively to make sure everyone has water.

“We know that our water plant can only produce 1.73 million gallons of water per day, and during the last two summers we have hit that amount or been very close to that amount,” Iosue said. “We know it's coming; it happens every summer. We have a very tough time keeping up with the demand and we know it's going to happen.”

What are the watering restrictions in Jefferson Township?

The mandatory restrictions will limit outdoor watering from May 15 to October 15 based on the last digit of customers' addresses. Those ending in odd numbers will only be allowed to have outdoor watering on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and those ending in even numbers can water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

No watering outside will be allowed on Mondays. Outdoor watering is also not allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., when solar evaporation is the highest.

There are exceptions for daily hand-watering of flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and hanging pots, as well as watering overseeding or spot–patching lawns by hand. Newly sodded or seeded lawns are exempt from odd-even watering for two weeks from the date of installation, then they must comply with the restrictions.

The resolution has financial penalties if people do not comply after a written warning.

Although Iosue said the resolution is effective immediately, he emphasized that the district will focus on educating customers first to encourage cooperation before turning to fines.

Per the resolution, the first offense will be a written warning. Fines will be issued for subsequent violations, ranging from $100 up to $500.

The resolution also includes offering a $100 water bill credit for customers who purchase a rain barrel for watering outdoor plants.

The district is looking into potential longer-term solutions to boost water supply to accommodate residential growth, but Iosue said these restrictions are needed for now to ensure customers have enough potable water for basic domestic uses, such as drinking, cooking and bathing.

“We know more growth is happening in the township and it's putting more of a demand on our water system production capacity, so we're trying to be proactive so we can make sure we can provide everyone with water,” Iosue said.

Iosue also said that the district is going to reach out to homeowner associations about excessive watering of plants and landscaping near entryways to subdivisions to reach an agreement about how to reduce their use of water.

The water district was founded in 1987 for two main reasons, according to its website. The local water district has helped the township retain local government control, avoiding annexations from the nearby cities of Columbus, Gahanna and Reynoldsburg. It also helped residents at the time who were struggling with poor well water quality and low water pressure.

The district’s water primarily comes from five wells and is then treated at the water plant, Iosue said. The district has connections to other water systems to potentially purchase bulk water during peak times, such as the Licking Regional Water District. But those agencies also must serve their customers, he noted, and water isn’t guaranteed to be available.

There’s also a hookup to the Columbus water system that serves most suburbs in central Ohio, but that’s reserved only for emergencies. Not having enough water for everyone in the coverage area would not qualify, Iosue said.

The district has a contract with Columbus to handle its sewage processing.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers regional/suburban trending stories for The Columbus Dispatch. She can be reached at awinfrey@dispatch.com.