Ripon Watering Schedule: Summer and Winter Days Explained
Ripon runs two different watering schedules across the year, and the switch between them catches out plenty of households. Here is what applies in summer, what changes in November, and what it costs to get it wrong.
The summer schedule: March through October
From March through October, even-numbered addresses water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Nobody waters Monday, and nobody waters between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Three days a week is more generous than several neighbouring cities allow, but the banned window is wider than most: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. is eight hours in the middle of the day.
Practically, that pushes you to early morning. Finishing before 8 a.m. gives the lowest evaporation loss and lets grass blades dry before nightfall, which keeps fungal problems down.
The winter schedule: November through February
From November through February the city drops to Saturday only. That is one watering day a week, for every address.
Going from three days to one is a big change, and the most common mistake in Ripon is simply not reprogramming the controller in November. A timer still running a summer schedule through December is both a violation and a waste, since a dormant lawn in cool weather needs a fraction of what it needed in August.
Set a calendar reminder for the first week of November and the first week of March. Those two dates are the whole trick.
The 48-hour rain rule
There is also a rule people miss: no irrigation of ornamental landscape during and for 48 hours after measurable rainfall. A controller without a rain sensor will happily break this one on your behalf.
A basic rain sensor or a smart controller with a weather feed handles this automatically and costs far less than the fines. In a wet January this rule can matter for a good part of the month.
What violations cost
Fines run $50, then $100, $200 and $400 for further violations inside a one-year period. Violations can be reported to waterwatch@cityofripon.org, and households can track their own use through EyeOnWater.com.
The fines escalate inside a rolling one-year window, so they are not reset by a change of season.
Watering well on a Ripon schedule
Ripon sits in San Joaquin County on ground that is commonly sandy loam rather than the heavy clay found across much of Modesto. That difference matters more than most people expect: sandy loam drains quickly and holds less water, so it forgives runoff but punishes long gaps between watering.
On sandy loam you generally want somewhat shorter, more frequent applications than clay demands, which suits Ripon's three summer days nicely. Runoff is rarely the problem here; drying out between days is.
Mow high anyway. Grass held at 3 to 4 inches shades its own root zone, and on sandy soil that shading is doing real work to slow evaporation.
Check before you assume
Ripon adjusts this schedule seasonally, so check the city’s water conservation page before assuming last year’s settings still apply.
The city has moved between two-day, three-day and once-weekly schedules in different years depending on conditions, so treat any published schedule, including this one, as a snapshot.
Frequently asked questions
What days can I water in Ripon?
From March through October, even-numbered addresses water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and odd-numbered addresses water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. From November through February it is Saturday only.
What hours can I not water in Ripon?
No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and no watering on Mondays at any time of year.
Can I water after it rains in Ripon?
No. Ripon prohibits irrigation of ornamental landscapes during and for 48 hours following measurable rainfall. A rain sensor or smart controller handles this automatically.
What is the fine for watering on the wrong day in Ripon?
Fines run $50 for a first violation, then $100, $200 and $400 for further violations within a one-year period.