The Lawn Whisperer
Click here to visit the Lawn Whisperer's Facebook page and view his
water savings tips.
A Water Message from Julia J.
Hunt, P.E.
Director, Arlington Water Utilities
Drought Update
Over the last few months, we've experienced
10.53" of rainfall. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor,
Tarrant County is no longer in drought conditions as of February 21,
2012. Tarrant Regional Water
District (TRWD) is Arlington's raw water supplier. TRWD and
its wholesale customers have taken a conservative approach on
lifting drought restrictions for two reasons:
-
In the winter, your landscape does not
require significant watering. Watering once every three
weeks is sufficient in the winter.
-
There is still a possibility of another hot,
dry summer with drought conditions.
Did you know that most of Arlington's water
supply comes from two reservoirs 80 miles southeast of our city?
These are Richland Chambers and Cedar Creek reservoirs. These
two reservoirs are still 3 feet below normal. Here is a recent
article on drought conditions:
Drought Not Over |
MyArlingtonTX.com
A dedicated webpage has been created to provide the most
up-to-date information on the latest drought situation in addition
to water saving tips, articles, and how-to videos. You can
also find more information on your specific watering days. The
webpage can be found at:
http://www.arlingtontx.gov/water/waterconservation_drought.html
Prepare Your Sprinkler System
It is the time of year to start preparing your
landscape and sprinkler system for the upcoming summer. Use
the tips below now to save water and money during the hottest months
of the year.
-
Conduct monthly inspections to identify and
adjust any sprinkler heads that are spraying water on the street
or driveway. Run every zone of the sprinkler system for 2
minutes and make necessary repairs and adjustments. At
minimum, this sprinkler check should occur at the start of
spring and again in mid-summer.
-
Only operate water sprinklers before 10 a.m.
or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation.
-
Adjust the watering schedule with the seasons
and only water 1 inch every 5-7 days during the heat of summer
and 1 inch every 3 weeks in winter.
-
Consider keeping the two day drought watering
schedule should Stage 1 watering restrictions be lifted. A
majority of all landscapes can survive and thrive with just two
days of watering during the hottest months of July and August.
-
For maximum efficiency, use the multiple
start times on your irrigation controller and change the setting
to run for 8 minutes, let it soak in while all the other zones
are finished watering, then start another watering event for 7
minutes. By practicing the "cycle and soak" method more
water is being absorbed into the soil and root zone and less
water runs into the street.
-
Install a rain and freeze sensor to
automatically turn off the sprinkler system during rain events
and freezing weather.
-
Convert landscape bed irrigation zones to
drip irrigation. Drip irrigation directly applies water to
the plant root zone for maximum efficiency.
Please mark your calendar for these Upcoming
Water Conservation Classes
Irrigation Quick Fixes
Tuesday, May 8, 6-8 p.m., Southwest Branch Library
To work efficiently, an irrigation system requires, at the very
least, an annual check-up. An inefficient system may waste as
much as 50% due to minor problems that are easy to fix. This
class will provide step-by-step instruction on how to perform an
irrigation check up as well as how to make minor repairs and
adjustments. Information on how to select a licensed
irrigation professional for larger more complicated jobs will also
be presented.
To register for the classes: contact Dustan Compton at 817-459-6628
or email:
dustan.compton@arlingtontx.gov.
Get More Helpful Tips for Saving Water Year-Round
The City of Arlington appreciates your commitment to conserving
water and we encourage you to save water and money by changing your
water use habits today.
Visit
www.SaveArlingtonWater.com for more water conservation tips.
For more information about this message, send us an e-mail at
water@arlingtontx.gov
or
call 817-459-6600. Together, we can ensure a reliable water
supply for future generations.
WaterSense: An EPA Partnership Program
Click the icon below for more information.
Watering Nixed Ten to
Six Year-Round
 Year-Round
Watering Restrictions 10am - 6pm
Except for hand watering and
the use of soaker hoses, it shall be unlawful for any person to
irrigate, water, or cause or permit the irrigation or watering of any
lawn or landscape located on premises owned, leased, or managed by
that person between the hours of 10:00AM and 6:00PM.
Rain
and Freeze Sensor Requirements
(1) Effective January 1, 2007 all irrigation systems
installed within the City must be equipped with rain and freeze
sensors in number and type established and published by the Director of Utilities.
This requirement applies to all commercial and
residential properties.
(2) Any irrigation system installed before January 1, 2007, may not be
operated after March 4, 2007 without being equipped with rain and
freeze sensors in number and type established and published by the
Director of Utilities. This
retrofitting requirement does not apply to a
single family residential or duplex property, or an individually metered townhome or condominium unit.
The above amendments were approved by City Council on November 28,
2006. Violations of the ordinance can result in fines up to
$500.
Ordinance 06-109
(pdf)
Approved Rain and
Freeze Sensor List (pdf)
New Irrigation Rules Effective January 1, 2009
As mandated by the Texas Legislature, the City of Arlington
recently approved Ordinance 08-108 creating a landscape
irrigation program that includes permitting, minimum design standards,
and inspections for all new and expanded lawn irrigation systems.
The new ordinance requires irrigation permits for new installations
and additions of sprinkler heads and/or zone valves to existing
irrigation systems. An irrigation permit is not required if you
are replacing a sprinkler head with a new sprinkler head in the same
location.
Because 50% of all treated water is used for irrigation and it
is estimated that up to half of that water is lost to leaks,
evaporation, and runoff, the new rules will help meet the projected
water demands of the State of Texas in the future. Efficient
irrigation systems combined with the proper seasonal
watering schedule can save a significant amount of water and money.
The landscape irrigation program will be managed through the One Start
Center by the Building Inspections department. To view the new
irrigation rules scroll down to "Irrigation Chapter" under
"Current adopted codes and ordinances"
here.
Remember:
Seasons Change and So Should Your Watering Schedule
No Outdoor Watering 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
Year Round
What is the difference between conservation planning and drought
management?
The City of Arlington and
the City's primary water supplier, Tarrant Regional Water District,
work closely together to develop and implement water conservation
and drought management plans to make possible an adequate supply of
water today and in the future. Although a water conservation
and drought management plan may appear to be the same, there are
differences between the plans that benefit the community and region
when put into practice.
Water Conservation Plan
Implemented full-time; permanent
Long-term response to efficient water use and supply
Drought Contingency Management Plan
Implemented during times of crisis, such as droughts
Short-term response to a water supply shortage
As annual and seasonal
climate varies, it is important to have an on-going water
conservation plan in place to better be prepared for drought
conditions in the future. The City of Arlington is dedicated
to the practice and promotion of the efficient use of our valuable
water supply and encourages all residents to be mindful of their
water usage.
Drip-Irrigated Plants Save Water
Drip-irrigated plants suited for the climate require
dramatically less water than grass while still preventing
the creation of urban heat islands. Photo courtesy of
SNWA.
Studies have established that a square foot
of grass needs 72 gal/year (272.5 L/yr) to survive, according
to J.C. Davis, senior public information coordinator of the
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). However, a
drip-irrigated plant suited to the climate needs only 17
gal/yr (64 L/yr), a savings of 55 gal/yr (208 L/yr) for each
square foot of grass sod replaced. |
