As many of you are likely aware, Colorado continues to
experience a state of drought which directly impacts the
availability of water.
As an
initial conservation measure, the District Board has
approved the following 2013 watering schedule for all
residential and commercial
customers, effective
immediately.
Should this action prove to be insufficient, further
measures may be necessitated as the summer progresses.
Additional action by the Board could include fees and
further watering restrictions - however, the District
hopes that such drastic measures will not prove to be
necessary.
Please encourage your District neighbors to share in the
conservation effort… We truly appreciate your support!
WaterSense Water Budget
Tool
About one-half of the water
we use at home is applied outdoors. Please consider
using plants in your yard that don’t need very much
watering. Did you know that clustering similar types of
plants in your landscape helps you use water more
efficiently? See how in our new two-minute Water Smart
Tips video “Right Plants Right Place”. Save water, save
money. It’s easy!
Install Rotary Sprinkler Nozzles
As spring snow and rain showers give way
to warmer days, your thoughts may be turning to enjoying your yard this
summer. If you’re over watering your lawn, you may want to consider
taking a few minutes to install rotary sprinkler nozzles. These nozzles
reduce the amount of water applied to your lawn by up to 30% over
traditional designs. A simple change-out of nozzles can Save Water, and
Save Money. It’s so easy, a kid can do it!
Some Great
Water Conservation Tips
Guidelines for when to
water
Irrigate when footprints
or mower tracks become visible or the lawn become blue-gray in
color.
Slowly apply water at
rates that replace evaporation so runoff and puddles do not occur.
Move your sprinkler
around the yard in cycles to let the water thoroughly and evenly
soak in.
Water dry spots instead
of the entire lawn.
Water between 9PM & 9AM
to avoid evaporation losses from hot and windy weather conditions.
Additional Ways to
Conserve Water for Landscaping
Make sure the irrigation
system is operating properly, replace broken or missing sprinkler
heads.
Make sure the spray
heads turn properly & check nozzles for plugging.
Adjust heads so that
water does not reach streets and driveways.
Place straight-sided
containers (such as tuna fish cans) around the yard during
irrigation and measure water depth so that you know how long it
takes to apply ¼ to ½ inch of water.
Place containers on
persistent dry spots to determine if poor sprinkler coverage is the
problem.
Never water if the soil
is still wet.
Managing the Water Needs
of Plants
Reset automatic
controllers according to the seasonal needs of plants. Inspect
controls at least once a month to adjust run times.
Shaded plants use less
water than plants in full sun.
Mulching for Water
Conservation Mulching reduces evaporation from the soil surface and reduces
irrigation needs by approximately 50%!
Use an organic mulch
to a depth of approximately 4 inches.
Grass clippings can be
used as mulch in the vegetable garden. Do not use clippings from
lawns treated with herbicides or other pesticides in the past month.
Use spun or woven
permeable landscape fabrics rather than solid sheet plastics.
