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After Meeting Drought Goal, Folsom Turns Water Back On At Splash Parks

FOLSOM (CBS13) — Some are questioning why Folsom city leaders are turning on the water at their splash parks in the middle of a severe drought.

City leaders say the move is meant to reward residents for conserving water.

Water play features at three Folsom parks were reopened on Thursday ahead of the hot holiday weekend.

"We've been going to El Dorado Hills because they didn't turn theirs off most of the summer so it was nice to be able to go down the road and come here today," said Joleen Bluefield.

Folsom Mayor Andy Morin says the water is back by popular demand, and because the city exceeded its 32 percent state water conservation target, thanks to a lot of help from mindful residents.

"Everybody understands that the conservation doesn't stop but we can make a small difference and kinda add a few things that we had to cut back, we feel good about that," he said.

He says the city can afford to let the water features flow because they use a minimal amount of recycled water.

"There is some water usage here but not the amount it would appear as if it were an open fountain just running to drainage," he said.

But a Folsom resident thinks it's a bit too soon to be patting ourselves on the back .

"Turn that off; it's wasting water. We are in a drought people. We are in a drought," she said. "I think it's basically giving people the wrong impression and rewarding people for doing something—the goal is not met yet;the problem isn't solved."

Others think it could help the city to conserve by keeping individual residents from filling pools in their yards.

Morin says if the city comes in less than expected next month, they will find another place to cut back before turning the water play features off again.

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