LCSA Hosts “Brown is the New Green” Photo Contest in Light of Dry Conditions and Unprecedented Water

Leesburg — Citing dry conditions coupled with unprecedented high water use, LCSA is hosting a “Brown is the New Green” photo contest to reward and celebrate customers who let their lawns go this summer. The winner will receive a “smart” outdoor watering kit, which includes a sprinkler timer, sprinkler gauge, landscape guide and soil moisture probe.

According to LCSA Manager of Communications Samantha Villegas, “Overzealous lawn watering during a particularly dry spell stresses the water supply system. The ‘set it and forget’ behavior we see with most sprinkler and irrigation system owners also leads to tremendous water waste, because soil moisture and rain forecasts are typically overlooked. We’re hosting a ‘Brown is the New Green’ photo contest to help capture and incite more positive water-using behavior.”

The Irrigation Association says that homeowners across America typically overwater their lawns and landscapes by up to 30 percent.

“Bottom line is, we need customers to cut back their lawn watering to one day per week, if at all, or to at a minimum follow the odd-even rule (water your lawn on even days if your street address has an even number and on odd days if it’s an odd number). Following this rule usually results in a 25 percent reduction in daily demand, which in turn helps storage tanks to refill overnight.”

Contest Rules and Directions

The contest is open to LCSA customers of all ages. Photos must be your own. Digital photos can be uploaded to www.flickr.com/groups/wisewateruse or emailed to photocontest@lcsa.org. Print photos can be mailed to Liza Young, LCSA, PO Box 4000, Leesburg, VA 20177. All photos must be received or posted by 5 pm August 17, 2007. Judging will be completed by LCSA.

For smart lawn watering tips and 100 ways to use water wisely, visit us at www.lcsa.org. 
                                                                

Contact: Liza Young
Community Relations Specialist
571-291-7847
liza.young@lcsa.org


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