Overwatering Landscape Wastes Water, Energy and Money

What would you do if someone flooded your front and back yards five feet deep with extra water that your lawn and plants didn't need, and you had to pay the bill for all that unneeded water?

Strange as it seems, that is what the average Southern California homeowner does each year to themselves, according to the City of Riverside Public Utilities (RPU).

The utility wants to inform customers they may be overwatering and paying for as much as 60 extra inches of water a year their landscape does not need to be healthy. That's a lot of water being wasted in the sixth year of a drought.

RPU's "Be Waterwise" campaign to help its customers save water and save money suggests a number of cost-free ways homeowners can reduce overwatering:

• The time to water is when plants need it. Rigid watering schedules waste water. Adjust water schedules for cooler weather in fall, winter and spring. Turn off automatic sprinklers on rainy days.
• Walk on your lawn. If your grass bounces back, you can probably wait another day or two to water. If your grass is dry and lies flat when you step on it, you should water your lawn.
• Try setting your automatic sprinkler controller to water half the time it does now. If your plants need a bit more, gradually increase the time.
• If you don't have an automatic sprinkler system, use a kitchen timer to help remind you to turn sprinklers off manually.
• To reduce runoff water, water for less time at two different times of the day to allow the soil to absorb the water.
• Mulch, Mulch, Mulch. A thick layer of mulch insulates the soil from the sun, slows water evaporation, discourages weeds, and keeps roots cool.
• Water thoroughly, but less frequently. Train your plants to develop deep roots. Plants will be healthier and stronger.
• Avoid watering on windy days. Much of your water evaporates or blows away onto the streets and neighbor's yards.
• Make earth basins around shrubs and small trees to retain water and reduce runoff.
• Adjust your lawnmower to cut higher in the summer. Most lawns are cut too short, exposing roots to the sun and causing increased water loss.
• Plant only drought resistant plants and install drip systems in landscape areas. Not free, but worth the investment! Your local Riverside nursery can offer advice.

Riverside Public Utilities urges residents to adjust their watering schedules and sprinkler system controllers often to conserve water, reduce their water bills and still maintain a healthy lawn and lively landscape.

For more water conservation tips and information on RPU's water-saving rebate programs, visit http://www.ci.riverside.ca.us/utilities/BeWaterwise/ or call (951) 826-5485.

Riverside Public Utilities is a consumer-owned water and electric utility, guided by seven volunteer citizens that serve on the Board of Public Utilities. RPU serves over 100,000 electric and 60,000 water customers within the City of Riverside.

Contact:
MJ Abraham
(951) 826-5626
Marketing Communications Manager

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