Water Conservation
Conservation for Municipal Users
Did you know that residents use up to 90 percent of their drinking water to irrigate landscapes in the summer? By making a few adjustments in the way we use water, residents can easily help to preserve this precious resource.
- Water your landscape during cooler times of the day, such as morning when it’s also less windy. And don’t forget to turn off your sprinklers when it rains.
- Inspect sprinklers to ensure the sprinkler heads aren’t broken or twisted and that they are watering only what is meant to be watered.
- Water in three short cycles of about four minutes each spaced over several hours rather than one twelve minute dousing to discourage water run off and encourage infiltration.
- Consider replacing outdated irrigation clocks with new models that water more efficiently and are easier to program.
- Set your lawn mower height to three inches to allow grass to develop a deeper, more protected root system and don't forget to aerate in the spring & fall.
- Consider replacing or reducing nonfunctional turf with shrubs, groundcovers, mulch, or other water-efficient plants. Replace cool season grass (such as tall fescue or rye) with warm season grasses (such as bermuda and zoysia).
- Limit car washing and be sure to use a positive shut-off nozzle and low volume sprayer. Try to limit the water you use to less than 10 gallons per vehicle. Or even better, only wash vehicles at a commercial facility, which recycles the water it uses.
- Turn off residential fountains and ornamental water features during the heat of the day or only use them when you are around to enjoy them.