Watering restrictions are just around the corner
April 30, 2013 | By webadmin
The North Texas Municipal Water district released a memo on April 25, 2013 stating that the cities that get their water from The NTMWD will be under stage 3 water restrictions effective June 1. Stage 3 allows for landscape watering one day a week. NTMWD serves Frisco, Plano, Richardson, Wylie, Allen, Garland, Mesquite, Rockwall, Rowlett, Prosper, Fairview and Bonham to name a few cities.
Lake Lavon, which is the NTMWD's main water supply, is down 7.7 feet. Lake Chapman is down 7.9ft. Lake Texoma, which usually provides 28% of NTMWD's water, is still not in use because of the presence of zebra mussels.
What does all of this mean for us in the green industry? First and foremost, it is an opportunity to all of us to educate our clients in these areas. A landscape can survive on once a week watering if done properly. It is better for your plants if you deliver a deeper, more thorough watering once per week, than several shallow waterings several times per week.
This is also a good opportunity to encourage irrigation checks. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted due to pipe breaks, broken nozzles and heads or misaligned heads spraying on hard surfaces. A simple check of the system can save this water and ensure that it is getting to the plant or lawn that really needs it.
Rain/freeze sensors are an asset as well. Why would we want to waste watering our yard when it is raining out? With a sensor, the system will automatically turn off when it measures a certain amount of rain. These sensors are great in the winter too. They will shut the system off when temperatures drop below 37 degrees. If your system runs during below freezing temperatures, you are liable for injuries that occur in the area.
Lastly, look into water conserving emitters for your irrigation systems. There are a lot of new products on the market that help conserve water or use less water. Drip irrigation is great for pots and planting areas. They must be run for longer amounts of time but put down a fraction of the water. They are good because the water is released slowly and works its way deep into the soil. Bubblers are a great alternative for shrubs and trees. Again, they direct the water to the base of the shrubs and trees to eliminate run off and watering of bare areas. MP rotator nozzles are a great alternative for your spray heads in turf. They put out 1/3 the amount of water as a standard nozzle, however, they have a larger water droplet which reduces misting and water being blown all of the yard from wind. Smart controllers are also efficient in managing your watering needs. Cities, such as Frisco, offer flexibility around the water restrictions if you have a smart controller registered through the city. Plano has a $50 rebate on your water bill with the installation of a rain/freeze sensor. Check with your individual cities on programs that may be offered in your area.
Roundtree Landscaping can provide you with irrigation installation, repair, drip irrigation and renovation in the Dallas area. Give us a call today at 214-824-7036 or email us at rli@roundtreelandscaping.com
