| ODOT News |
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| 10/25/2004 |
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Standing Water Creating Unexpected Conditions
For more information contact Julianne Repman (541) 388-6224
With evening temperatures beginning to dip below the freezing mark, it seems clear that winter is right around the corner. The recent cool weather has slowed the growth of lawns and flowers, prompting many residents to turn off their irrigation systems and blow out their sprinklers. Nevertheless, many others are continuing to irrigate at a summer volume, causing water to collect on sidewalks and roadways creating treacherous, slippery conditions for motorists and pedestrians.
"Not only is it illegal to place water on highway right-of-way without written permission, it creates a serious hazard and places drivers in jeopardy," says Dave Neys, Transportation Maintenance manager. "Take a look around and survey your water output. If your sprinkler system is causing water to pool on the roadway, you’re using too much water."
Neys says property owners can be held liable if their sprinkler systems create pools of standing water, which then causes an accident. "Drivers are not expecting ice if the morning weather is cool and dry, so they’re taken by surprise when they hit an icy patch caused by a sprinkler system."
Neys says excess water can be hazardous to daytime drivers as well. Standing water on roadways may cause motorists to hydroplane and momentarily loose control of their vehicles.
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