by Steven Felschundneff | steven@claremont-courier.com

For those of you wondering if it’s ever going to stop raining, Claremont’s water provider has a message: When the rain does end you can water the lawn twice per week.

Golden State Water Company announced Tuesday that due to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s recent decision to lift the local water emergency for agencies dependent on the State Water Project, residents are no longer bound to the one-day-per-week watering schedule imposed last spring.

“In response to increasing water allocations from the State’s water system and MWD’s decision to lift emergency water restrictions, effective April 1st Golden State Water Company’s Claremont customers can increase outdoor watering from one day a week to two days a week,” said Ben Lewis, general manager, Golden State Water’s Foothill District. “Even as drought conditions evolve, our community must continue to use water responsibly and take advantage of conservation rebates and programs that help improve water-use efficiency. Ongoing drought conditions have made conservation a way of life in California.”

The best news in its announcement? Beginning April 1, drought surcharges will also be suspended.

Under the new plan, residents with even-numbered addresses can water Monday and Thursday, while those with odd numbers can do so Tuesday and Friday. Residents are asked to water between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. and limit the duration to eight minutes per station.

The restrictions apply to watering of decorative grass. Hand watering and drip systems can run any day of the week but must observe the same 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. hours.

The news may bring an eye roll, or worse, from winter weary residents, but the cautious approach to reversing conservation measures is based on the total water outlook and not just the record breaking snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. Metropolitan Water District officials cautioned earlier in the year that deepening drought conditions affecting the Colorado River could result in another year of rationing.

Because Southern California depends on the Colorado for 20% of its water, even a full restoration of its allocation from the State Water Project could leave the region short as the summer months approach.