May 06, 2021
As drought conditions persist, High Plains Underground Water Conservation District (HPWD) encourages area residents to incorporate water-efficient practices into their landscapes to avoid water waste.
Landscape irrigation and outdoor water use may account for 50 to 80 percent of total residential use during spring and summer. Unfortunately, most of this is wasted dur to inefficient watering practices.
Here are a few tips to help conserve water this spring and summer:
• Reduce water evaporation by irrigating at proper times. Evaporation losses can be 60 percent or higher during the day. You can reduce this by irrigating in early morning or late evening.
• Not sure about the amount of water to apply to your landscape? Consider using the free WaterMyYard program, phone app, and website. It uses scientific data obtained from weather stations to determine how much water plants need—based upon local climate and other factors.
• Be sure to follow your town or city landscape watering ordinances, if applicable.
• Do not water landscapes on windy days. Wind drift and evaporation increase water losses.
• Use a low-angle sprinkler that throws large drops of water— rather than one that sprays a fine mist of water that can evaporate quickly.
• Homeowners with automatic sprinkler systems should regularly check spray nozzles to make sure they are operating properly. Be sure to replace any broken sprinkler heads, valves, seals, or pipes.
• Adjust the run time and frequency of automatic landscape sprinkler systems in response to changes in rainfall/temperature.
• Add water efficient plant varieties into your landscape. These plants are native or well adapted to climate conditions in your area.
• Consider use of drip irrigation to water narrow parkway areas or reduce turf in those areas with water-wise plant varieties that can thrive on less water.
• Position sprinklers so that driveways and sidewalks are not irrigated. Check spray patterns for variations caused by changes in water pressure.
• Consider rainwater harvesting to collect/store water for future use in your landscape. • Use mulch to retain soil mois
• Use mulch to retain soil moisture, reduce runoff, moderate soil temperature, and to slow weed growth.