Fairhope Urges Lawn Watering After Midnight, Sparks Social Media Backlash

Amid scorching heat and minimal rainfall along Alabama's Gulf Coast, the city of Fairhope is asking residents to water their lawns during the night. This request comes as a preventive measure to manage water usage, despite no current water crisis in the city.

Mayor Sherry Sullivan assured residents that the situation is not as dire as last August’s heat wave, which led to water emergencies. “There are no restrictions in place,” Sullivan told Cotton State Chronicle. “We’re simply requesting that residents water their lawns overnight, avoiding peak usage times between 6 and 8 a.m.”

The city's appeal was posted on Facebook, where it was met with a wave of criticism. Many residents expressed frustration, blaming the city’s rapid growth and development over the past two decades for straining the water supply.

Despite the outcry, Sullivan emphasized that Fairhope’s water system is not under threat. Currently, the city’s water usage peaks at 9.2 million gallons per day, well within the system’s expanded capacity of 11 million gallons—a capacity increase made possible by a $15 million infrastructure project completed in June. This upgrade, which included a new well and an expanded water main through downtown, added an additional 2 million gallons to the city's daily capacity.

Last year’s water emergency, triggered by a similar heat wave, saw the city’s water system pushed to its limits, resulting in discolored water and widespread dissatisfaction. Residents were quick to blame city officials for allowing unchecked growth, including the construction of new apartment complexes, which has put additional pressure on the water system. Fairhope’s population has surged by over 63% since the 2010 Census, compounding the strain on resources.

The water conservation challenges in Fairhope aren’t new. The city has faced similar issues since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic kept residents at home, leading to increased water consumption. The current water conservation ordinance, enacted by the Fairhope City Council in 2020, was designed to reduce water usage during peak demand hours.

As the heatwave continues, with temperatures potentially reaching 100 degrees later this week, water conservation may become more pressing. According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, rain chances won’t rise above 30% until Thursday. Although the Alabama Gulf Coast is not currently experiencing drought conditions, areas like Choctaw and Washington counties are labeled “abnormally dry,” and this could expand if the hot, dry weather persists.

Meteorologist Steve Miller noted that the situation could change depending on rainfall. “It all depends on whether Mother Nature decides to give us some rain,” he said.