Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Relax watering hours for seniors’ safety

With only one day a week allowed for watering yards, why can’t those of us over 70 or 75 and the handicapped be allowed to water either until noon or in the late afternoon, while it is still a little light and warm? Dragging a hose around in the chill of darkness, tripping over things we can’t always see even with yard lights on, is not safe.

Seniors often live alone or likely have no one else to hand their tasks to. Why can’t we be given the option to water when it is most convenient on that one day? Falling is a real danger, especially in the dark.

I can barely get out and about by 9 a.m., and we have no business trying to do these things late in the day.

Even with a drought tolerant yard, I still hand water some things that keep me out late to get everything outdoors done. I have even bought a head lamp to see what I am doing, since I no longer leisurely water the whole area but one plant at a time to save water. Please?

Georgia Vercoe, Fresno

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 4:17 AM with the headline "Relax watering hours for seniors’ safety."

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