Sacramento Stepping Up Water Warnings To Meet Mandatory Cuts

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — In the first week of mandatory state cuts on water use, local water districts say while they've been conserving for some time, it's all hands on deck time to meet the steep cuts.

Jimmy Chillquist with Sprinkler Logic says it's clear many have gotten the memo on the drought, with business picking up significantly.

"Our calls range from anything from resetting a clock to a leaky sprinkler head," he said.

He and his crew was at the Smith residence on Monday repairing a broken sprinkler valve that had been steadily leaking water.

The Smiths say when they noticed the leak, it was a top priority to get it fixed.

Chillquist says he notices many other customers are calling after being greeted by their water district with a warning.

"There's no question we see more calls because of that," he said.

The city of Sacramento says it's responded to nearly 8,000 water complaints or violations since the beginning of the year, up from nearly 2,000 the same time last year.

Water conservation officer Steve Upton says city enforcement has expanded to seven days a week with talks of starting overnight patrols.