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| Water Conservation |
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It’s wet, it’s cool, it’s time to change your WATERING game plan.
Now that it’s cooler and wetter, you can begin by adjusting your watering game plan. Lawns need about half as much water now as they did in the peak of summer. In North Texas, that means an inch every 10 to 15 days. And with all the rains lately, most of us could have stopped irrigating all together for several weeks during September and October.
If you are still watering the same amount today that you did in the summer, spend a couple of minutes and adjust your irrigation controller to spread that inch of water over a two week period. Stretch the interval between watering, not the length of time you water.
Here are some other things you can do to make sure you’re not wasting water:
- Water in 2-3 cycles to give the water time to soak in and avoid runoff.
- Water early in the day or late in the evening (before 10AM or after 6PM) to minimize evaporation.
- And if it’s been months since you last checked your system, give it a test run to make sure everything is working the way it’s supposed to.
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Water conservation is a critical issue for North Central Texas. The latest population projections predict the number of people residing in Texas to more than double between the years 2000 and 2060, growing from about 21 million to nearly 46 million within that time span. The Texas Water Development Board predicts water demands to increase by 27 percent. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires retail public water suppliers providing water service to 3,300 or more connections to submit a water conservation plan and drought contingency plan. These plans must be updated every five years.
The City’s updated Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan were passed and approved by the City Council on April 14, 2009. The adoption of these plans was incorporated into the Water Resource Management Ordinance that completely revised the former Restrictions on Outdoor Use of Water ordinance. These revisions are addressed further down. Both plans were developed based on model plans provided by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). The TRWD supplies water to the Trinity River Authority (TRA), and the TRA supplies Bedford with over 90 percent of its water supply. The City is an active participant on the TRWD’s water conservation committee whose objective is to create uniform conservation measures for the region.
Click here to view a full copy of the Water Conservation Plan and click here for the Drought Contingency Plan. |
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New Restrictions in the Water Resource Management Ordinance as of April 14, 2009.
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. from JUNE 1 – SEPTEMBER 30. |
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REMINDERS
All new irrigation systems must be in compliance with ordinances 08-2912 and 08-2913 of the City Code of Ordinances, as the same may be from time to time amended, including but not limited to system design and installation requirements and the prohibition of irrigation systems that spray directly onto impervious surfaces or other non-irrigated areas.
The State regulations referenced in 08-2912 and 08-2913 can be viewed here.
Any irrigation system installed within the City on or after August 1, 2008 must be equipped with rain and freeze sensors.
Any irrigation system installed before August 1, 2008 may not be operated after August 1, 2010 without being equipped with rain and freeze sensors. This requirement does not apply to a single family residential or duplex property, or an individual metered townhome or condominium unit. |
It is PROHIBITED to:
Operate an irrigation system with broken or missing heads after receiving notification from the building official and such representative as they may designate.
Operate an irrigation system which causes significant runoff.
This information is only an excerpt of the Water Resource Management ordinance. |
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There are many ways you can help conserve water, such as:
- When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
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- Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
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- Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
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- Avoid planting turf in areas that are hard to water such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.
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- Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
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- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons every time.
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- Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
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- Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
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- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
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- If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient showerhead.
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Click here to see 90 more ways you can save water!
www.wateruseitwisely.com/100ways/index.shtml
www.texaswatermatters.org/conservation.htm
www.watersmart.org
Visit Texas Smartscape to find native and drought resistant plants that require less watering. www.txsmartscape.com. SmartScape shows you the tools you need to plan your garden, select the right plants and care for them in a manner that saves you time and money while at the same time protecting our streams and rivers, and ultimately conserving our water resources.
You can also visit the Earth Kind website at earthkind.tamu.edu. This environmental stewardship program uses research proven techniques to provide maximum gardening and landscaping enjoyment while preserving and protecting our environment. The principle goals of Earth Kind include water conservation, the safe use and handling of fertilizers and pesticides, and the reduction of yard wastes entering urban landfills. |
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