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Free "Go With the Flow"
Toilet Distribution Event
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The City of Arlington water
conservation plan focuses on programs that help residents use water
more efficiently today so that a reliable water supply will be
available in the future. One program that has been developed is
the free "Go With the Flow" Toilet Distribution Event that will occur
on Saturday, September 25, 2010. A total of 500 toilets will be
provided to pre-qualified Arlington residents that still have an older,
high water use toilet and a good standing account with Arlington Water
Utilities. Replacing older toilets with high-efficiency models
can potentially save a family of four up to $90 a year in reduced
water and wastewater costs.
Free "Go With the Flow" Toilet
Distribution Event Eligibility Guidelines:
1) Participant must be a City of Arlington
resident with a good standing account with Arlington Water Utilities;
and
2) Residence or bathroom addition must have
been built before 1992; and
3) Requested toilet must replace an older
large-capacity toilet that uses more than 1.6 gallons per flush.
To apply for the Free "Go With the
Flow" Toilet Distribution Event please click
here.
For questions, e-mail Dustan Compton at
dustan.compton@arlingtontx.gov
or call 817-459-6628.
Water-Efficient Landscape
Education Program
Upcoming Classes:
Big 100 Rain Barrel Bash
- Saturday, September 18, 2010, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The cost
of the class is $40 and you leave with a rain barrel that you helped
build. For more information, click
here.
Free Classes at Ecofest
Arlington - Saturday, September 18, 2010, from 1 p.m. - 6p.m.
Topics include: growing vegetables, low carbon diet, quick and healthy
meals with a demonstration, landscape design, native plants,
composting demonstrations, and many more! For more information,
click
here.
In the news:
Mayor Robert Cluck accepted the City Livability Award for
water conservation efforts at the 78th Annual Meeting of the U.S.
Conference Mayors.
Read the full press release...
A Water Message from Julia J.
Hunt, P.E.
Director, Arlington Water Utilities
Outdoor Watering
Summer is officially here. With warmer weather comes increased
outdoor watering. It is important to remain focused on water
conservation during this time. Following good conservation practices will ensure
an adequate water supply for today and in the future. Watering
the lawn after 6PM and before 10AM alone can help you to avoid losing
50% or more of your water to evaporation. Remember Six to
Ten, Watering Wins. Every drop of water you save makes a
difference to the future of the water supply in Texas.
Here are a few tips to promote a healthy lawn and water conservation:
-
Six to Ten Watering Wins Remember to water after 6PM or
before 10AM to avoid losing 50% or more of your water to evaporation.
Watering is prohibited from 10AM to 6PM year-round by City ordinance.
-
Mulch and Mow High Place 3-4 inches of mulch in your
flower beds and mow your grass clippings into your lawn to retain
moisture and grow healthier plants. Set your heights at 3 or 4
inches for healthier lawns that requires less water.
-
Five Days, One Inch During the summer months, watering
your lawn once every 5 days to a depth of 1 inch promotes a deep root
system and avoids a dependency on frequent watering.
-
Repair physical problems immediately The three most
common physical problems in an irrigation system are broken
components, such as risers, improperly designed or spaced heads,
and/or dissimilar heads or nozzles. Check rotation and direction
of spray to avoid watering sidewalks, driveways, streets, etc.
Run a two minute test on all zones each month and make adjustments as
necessary.
-
SmartScape Gardening Select native or drought tolerant
plants that have less water demands. For recommendations from
local experts on landscape design, plant selection, and maintenance
tips, visit www.txsmartscape.com.
-
Drip Irrigation Install modern landscape devices, such
as drip irrigation, that applies water at the plant root level and
eliminates water lost due to evaporation and runoff.
Demonstration Garden
During the summer months,
outdoor watering accounts for 50% of the treated water used in
Arlington. Customers can reduce outdoor watering by making
changes to their landscape. To help, you will find demonstration
gardens throughout the city designed to educate residents on the
benefits of planting native and adaptive plants that thrive in our
area. The gardens showcase some of the many styles of landscapes
that conserve water, provide beauty and save money because of reduced
maintenance demands. Complementing this education effort,
Arlington Water Utilities is proud to announce that Arlington City
Hall will soon undergo construction of a new landscape plan that will
save water and help beautify the downtown area.
Partially funded by a grant
from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation and in cooperation with the
Parks and Recreation department, the landscape at City Hall will be
changing over the next couple of months. Gone will be the older,
water-wasting turfgrass, groundcover, and shrubs as they will be
replaced with native and adaptive plants that will provide
seasonal beauty and use less water. Converting the existing
spray irrigation system to efficient drip irrigation, amending the
soil with compost, covering the newly planted landscape beds with
three inches of mulch, and installing educational signage are
essential steps in the process. The project is scheduled for
completion in July and will be a great complement to the changes made
on Center Street and the addition of the Levitt Pavilion.
Demonstration Gardens in
Arlington
Molly Hollar Wildscape at Veteran's Park - 2600 Spanish Trail
Water Conservation Garden - 1100 SW Green Oaks Blvd.
Southwest Branch Library - 3311 SW Green Oaks Blvd.
Thora Hart Park - 3510 West Green Oaks Blvd.
Arlington City Hall - 101 West Abram Street (July 2010)
Click
here to view interactive maps of demonstration gardens in
Arlington.
Get 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.
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 Ordinance" under "Current
adopted codes and ordinances" here:
Codes and Ordinances.
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.
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