Be Water Smart, too

You are smart about everything in your life: how you save money, what you eat, what car you buy, and how you raise your kids. Why not be smart about water use too? If you are not paying attention to it, you are likely paying more than you need to, for wasted water. More than half the water you use in the summer is used for your lawn. Here's how to be smart about it:

Homeowners with Automated Sprinkler Systems (installed underground)

• Set your controller to 2 times per week using our recommended schedule: odd homes go Wednesdays and Saturdays, and even homes on Thursdays and Sundays. Contact your system consultant for step-by-step instructions for resetting your controller, or click on the graphic above titled "5 Ways to Save Water" for an instructional flyer you can print out.
• Touch the box weekly - Adjust your irrigation system per the weather. Remember, it should be off more than it's on. Shut it off in the rain and shut it off anytime we've received rain within the last ten days.
• Add a rain shut-off switch to your system. This inexpensive device keeps sprinklers off in wet weather and can be retrofitted to most systems by your system's consultant.
• Apply water in short cycles to allow absorbtion without runoff.
• Check your system monthly for broken heads or leaks that can turn an efficient system into a water guzzler.
• Adjust sprinkler heads routinely to keep water on the landscape and off pavements and structures.

Homeowners without Automated Systems

Most experts agree that an established lawn needs just one inch of water per acre per week. How much is an inch of water and what does it cost? How long do you water to get an inch?

This depends on your sprinkler's precipitation rate. To calculate it, place six to eight small, shallow cans at different locations around your lawn. (Tuna or cat food cans work well.) Time your sprinkler to run for 15 minutes. Calculate the average amount of the cans. Use this number to calculate how many minutes to run your sprinkler to get an inch of water.

Water supplied by sprinkler:	.2	.3	.4	.5	.6	.7	.8	.9	1.0
Watering time in minutes:	75	50	37	30	25	22	19	16	15
So if your total is .5 inches, you will need to water your lawn for 30 minutes in order to apply one inch of water.

How much does it cost you each quarter to water an inch per week?

Lot Size	Watering one inch, once a week (meter +peak charge)*
1 acre	$114.80
½ acre	$57.40
¼ acre	$29.80
*Other factors related to your water and sewer bill have not been taken into consideration within these equations. Peak charge is based on usage over 6,000 gallons over the winter quarter or 1.3 times your winter quarter – whichever is greater. Your actual bill may be higher or lower depending on consumption. See Customer Service for more information. Sample figures based on 1 inch of water per watering at Central Service rates.