East End residents face odd-even lawn watering rules amid drought

East End homeowners now have to check their street number before turning on sprinklers. Under Suffolk County Water Authority’s Stage 1 Water Alert, odd-numbered addresses may water only on odd calendar days and even-numbered addresses only on even calendar days, with lawn watering banned between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The restrictions covered Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton and East Hampton as drought pressure built across the East End. The utility said the alert came amid drought and record pumpage, a sign that summer demand was pushing the system hard enough to require immediate conservation.

SCWA described the odd-even rule as longstanding, but the current alert made it more than a background guideline. Later notices from the utility urged East End residents to halt unnecessary water use amid severe drought and constrained supply, and then asked all customers to immediately reduce water use as the Stage 1 alert continued.

News 12 Long Island said the alert had already been issued on Tuesday before its July 15 story, and Newsday reported that Suffolk residents were told to stop watering lawns immediately because of heat and drought. ABC7 New York’s coverage and related social posts put the issue squarely on the East End, where summer watering habits can shift quickly from routine to restricted.

For households, the rules change everyday maintenance. A missed odd-even day can mean a skipped lawn cycle, while the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. window forces residents to move irrigation to early morning or evening hours. SCWA’s conservation advice also points to longer-term habits, including using rain sensors so sprinklers do not run during storms and planting native ground cover that needs less watering.

The county’s drought status is tracked on Drought.gov’s Suffolk County page, reinforcing that the restrictions are tied to documented water stress rather than a temporary reminder. On the East End, where residential demand, hot weather and irrigation needs converge fast, the alert signals that the water supply is under strain now, not later.