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Your
sprinkler systems should be left in the off
position and only turned on when absolutely needed, to avoid the
unnecessary waste of water. We also need to be cognizant of how
much water our sprinklers are putting out during their cycle.
Most systems can probably cut their run times in half and still
satisfy the lawn’s needs. Everyone needs to take a few minutes
to evaluate their sprinkler's performance and make the necessary
adjusts to ensure proper efficiency. Each sprinkler head should
be checked to ensure proper operation, proper direction
(not aiming on streets, driveways, or sidewalks) and
after the system shuts off to make sure the heads are not
leaking. These few
simple checks along with the “hands on” approach with
sprinklers normally in the off
position, can drastically
reduce water consumption during the spring and summer months.
Even if you need to hire a sprinkler professional to come and
perform these checks, the costs can be offset by lowering your
water bill.
Other
methods for saving water in the home consist of checking your
sinks and toilets for leaks. Toilets are the number one culprit
for water loss in the home and waste an incredible amount of
water without you even knowing it. If you would like to check
your toilet for leaks, we will supply you with die tabs that can
be placed in the tank and will turn the water in the bowl blue
if you have a leak. If you have an older 6 gallon per flush
toilet, think about replacing it with the new efficient 1.6
gallons per flush toilet.
If
you are in the market for a new washing machine, the new front
loaders can save over 40%
in water consumption while doing a better job with the cleaning.
As
more trees are being cut and more areas are being paved, our
watersheds, which are essential for re-charging our aquifers,
are diminishing. It is imperative that we all take and active
and pro-active approach for this coming summer and for the years
to come. Water is our most precious resource and if we work
together we can ensure a safe an adequate supply for future
generations.
SAVING
WATER OUTDOORS
- Don't overwater your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only
need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer. A hearty rain
eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
Plant it smart, Xeriscape. Xeriscape landscaping is a great
way to design, install and maintain both your plantings and
irrigation system that will save you time, money and water.
For your free copy of "Plant it Smart," an
easy-to-use guide to Xeriscape landscaping, contact your
Water Management District.
- Water lawns during the early morning hours when
temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces
losses from evaporation.
- Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position
your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and
shrubs ... not the paved areas.
- Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for
each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are
examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.
- Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be
sure they are operating properly. Anyone who purchases and
installs an automatic lawn sprinkler system should install a
rain sensor device or switch which will override the
irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate
rainfall has occurred." To retrofit your existing
system, contact an irrigation professional for more
information.
- Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A
lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper,
shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a
closely-clipped lawn.
- Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. The application of
fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers
which contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of
nitrogen.
- Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps
to control weeds that compete with pants for water.
- Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground
covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need
to be watered as frequently and they usually will survive a
dry period without any watering. Group plans together based
on similar water needs.
- Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to
clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose
to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
- Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle which can be
adjusted down to fine spray so that water flows only as
needed. When finished, "Turn it Off" at the faucet
instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
- Use hose washers between spigots and water hoses to
eliminate leaks.
- Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden
hoses can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours,
so don't leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen
timer to remind yourself to turn it off.
- Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly.
- Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.
If you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so.
- Avoid the installation of ornamental water features (such
as fountains) unless the water is recycled. Locate where
there are minimal losses due to evaporation and wind drift.
- If you have a swimming pool, consider a new water-saving
pool filter. A single backflushing with a traditional filter
uses from l80 to 250 gallons or more of water.
Tips for
conserving water:
Don’t let the water run while brushing you teeth and only fill
the sink half way when shaving. Take shorter showers and only
use the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads. Your hot
water heater can account for up to 20% of your energy cost.
Sweep your driveway with a broom , do not use a hose. Water your
lawn in the early morning hours to avoid evaporation and if you
have automatic sprinklers, shut them off when it rains. Also
check to make sure they are aimed on your lawn and not on
driveways, sidewalks or streets. Purchase water saving devices,
such as low flow toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators at
any home supply store. Not only will you help conserve water and
delay the need for additional water sources but you will lower
your water and sewer bill as well.
Fix Those Leaks:
Did you know that a leaking toilet can waste 200 gallons
per day ?
A dripping faucet
can waste 20 gallons per/day.
A hot water leak can cost you .38 cents/day.
Any leak or drip should be fixed immediately. 95%
of our calls for high water bills, turn out to be internal
leaks. If you suspect you have a leaky toilet,
add some food coloring to the tank of the toilet and let it sit
for 1/2 hour. Then check the bowl to see if the water has
changed color. If it has you know you have a leak. If you
believe you have a leak but are having trouble finding it,
please call to have water department personnel check it for you.
If you have one of the new brass Neptune or Sensus meters,
you can easily check for a leak yourself. There is a small red
or black triangular dial on the meter head. This is a low flow
indicator. Check to make sure that no water that you know of is
running. Then watch the dial. If it is moving then you know that
there is a leak.
If you notice a drop in your water pressure or any unusual wet
areas or bubbling water in your yard, please call to have it
checked for a leak. A pinhole in your service line, although not
going through your meter, can add up to more than 1,000,000
gallons per year!
Winter Water Tips
The Water dept. would like to offer some winter tips, to help
keep your water pipes from freezing. First locate your main shut
off valve and water meter. You need to check your valve and make
sure it works in case of an emergency. It is usually located in
your basement on the side facing the street. Ensure that the
area immediately surrounding the valve and meter is warm enough
to prevent freezing. In older homes with fieldstone and rock
foundations, make sure there are no direct drafts from the holes
in the walls or gaps in the windows and doors. If these areas
remain cold constantly, you should insulate your pipes or wrap
them in heating tape. Both of these items can be found in
any home improvement store. Remember, even if the room
temperature is warm, a direct cold draft on your water pipes,
can cause them to freeze!
In the event that your pipes do become frozen, locate the
faucet closest to your main valve and meter. Usually there is
one just after the meter. Turn it on to determine if the pipes
are frozen in your home or if they are frozen on the street side
of the meter. If you have water flow at the point, then the
problem is further along the pipe in your home. If you do not
have a faucet near the meter, try turning you main valve before
the meter off. If it turns freely the problem is most likely in
your home. If if will not close please give us a call. If your
pipes are frozen in your home, try to locate the frozen area by
checking subsequent faucets along the way. If there are none,
then feel your way across the pipe to find the coldest spot.
Once you find the area, inspect the pipe to make sure it is not
split. Locate the nearest shut off in case you need it. Open the
nearest faucet and try thawing the pipe with a hair dryer,
making sure you slide it from side to side and do not leave it
concentrated on one direct spot. This could cause the pipe to
burst. In most cases this should solve the problem. If you are
unable to thaw the pipe, you should then contact a plumber. If
the problem is on the street side of your meter, you should then
contact the Water department.
If your water has frozen in the past and the problem has not
been corrected, as a last resort you should let your water run a
trickle on extremely cold nights. If you have a septic system,
it is best to run an outside faucet to keep from filling the
tank. If you choose to run the outside faucet, please divert the
water from flowing on sidewalks and roadways.
Also, don't forget to turn off and drain the supply to your
outside faucets during the winter. They will freeze and split if
left on.
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