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UPDATE: The water restrictions have been modified to the following:
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 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Flipped on the news lately?
If so, chances are you’ve heard lots about us not getting much rain this year. In fact, we are experiencing the third driest year-to-date.
We know this is the time of year most of us really work to improve and maintain our homes’ landscaping by cultivating bright green grass and colorful flowers.
If you’re in this camp, we’ve got news for you.
The City of Arlington has implemented Stage 1 drought watering restrictions. The goal is to save 5% of the current water by restricting outdoor watering.
If you’re new to Arlington or never really paid much attention to what exactly the water restrictions entail, here are the basics:
Residential
Wednesdays and Saturdays watering days for residential addresses that end with an even number (0,2,4,6, or 8)Thursdays and Sundays watering days for residential addresses that end with an odd number (1,3,5,7, or 9)
Non-Residential/Commercial
Tuesdays and Fridays watering days for all non-residential locations. This includes apartments, businesses, parks, common areas, etc.
As shown above, outdoor watering can only occur twice a week. All outdoor watering with sprinklers must take place before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. The sun’s heat is much less intense at this time, so you’ll lose less water to evaporation during these time frames anyway.
Hand held watering, drip irrigation and soaker hoses can be used any time, any day.
Here are four more outdoor water-saving tips:
Don’t water the sidewalk. This is probably one of the biggest ways to waste water while caring for your lawn. If you have a sprinkler system, make sure all of the sprinkler heads are pointed in a direction so that none of the water lands on the sidewalk. If you have a sprinkler that you move from place to place in your yard, be sure to put it in a place where it hits as little concrete as possible.
Check for leaks. Leaks in your irrigation system, kinks in your hose or a damaged sprinkler head can cause much more water loss than you think. When you start watering, check all the water delivery systems in your yard to make sure there’s no water leaking and if you find leaks, obviously, repair them.
Don’t mow, let it grow. This is probably the hardest restriction for me because I get antsy when my lawn looks overgrown. But if you can stand it, try to let the grass grow a little longer before you mow it or set your cut settings a little higher on your mower. Taller grass cools the soil and encourages deep roots, while short grass is more susceptible to heat.
Install rain sensors on your irrigation system. Ever driven past a home in Arlington during or after a rain only to see a sprinkler system merrily watering the lawn as if nothing wet is pouring from the sky? It’s pretty easy to avoid if you install rain sensors on your sprinkler system. A rain sensor determines whether or not enough rainfall has occurred in order to skip an irrigation cycle.
Overall, Arlington’s Stage 1 drought watering restrictions are actually beneficial to your lawn and the environment. Be sure to use your best judgment when watering your lawn especially given the lack of rain this year. For more information on the water restrictions, hop over to the city’s website.
