Water Conservatin is Becoming a Mantra
April 13, 2009
Over this past weekend as I watched TV, I saw the same ad for water conservation run approximately once every hour. Of later, the media have been featuring articles concerning a potential shortage of water resources in California. Suggestions abound for ways to cut back on your water usage.
As trees and gardens begin to grow after the winter hiatus, it is a good time to check out your home irrigation system. Many of us have automatic sprinkler systems and over time they can need a tune up.
Here are some symptoms of a system needing a tune up:
1. Soil erosion or water runoff
2.Swampy area that never seem to dry out
3. Plants obstructing the spray pattern
4. Dying plants
5. Water spraying on the driveway, sidewalks or street
Needing a tune-up:
1. Leaking valves
2. Clogged sprinkler heads
3. Broken or leaking heads
4. Rotating heads not rotating
5. Heads spraying in the wrong direction
Water pressure to low for proper function of system:
1. Pop up heads not fully extending
2. Spray does not reach the intended area
3. Doughnut shaped dry areas in lawn
Water pressure to high:
1. Pipes are continually breaking
2. Sprinkler nozzles blow off
3. Spray is overshooting the desired areas
This entire check up will not take a very long time and should be done with some frequency as system do go awry.
If you want to spend some money to save some money, you can have a separate meter installed for your yard. It wil cost a few hundred dollars, but folks who do say that their bill is almost half of what it was, because water used for exterior purposes is charged at a lower rate. It would be wise before you to check with your water provider to see if they have a rate differential. Some communities have installed the "purple pipe" that has unpotable water that can be used for yards.
As we all become "greener" and more into conservation, there will probably be more inovations that will be available to assist us in being more "green".
Over this past weekend as I watched TV, I saw the same ad for water conservation run approximately once every hour. Of later, the media have been featuring articles concerning a potential shortage of water resources in California. Suggestions abound for ways to cut back on your water usage.
As trees and gardens begin to grow after the winter hiatus, it is a good time to check out your home irrigation system. Many of us have automatic sprinkler systems and over time they can need a tune up.
Here are some symptoms of a system needing a tune up:
1. Soil erosion or water runoff
2.Swampy area that never seem to dry out
3. Plants obstructing the spray pattern
4. Dying plants
5. Water spraying on the driveway, sidewalks or street
Needing a tune-up:
1. Leaking valves
2. Clogged sprinkler heads
3. Broken or leaking heads
4. Rotating heads not rotating
5. Heads spraying in the wrong direction
Water pressure to low for proper function of system:
1. Pop up heads not fully extending
2. Spray does not reach the intended area
3. Doughnut shaped dry areas in lawn
Water pressure to high:
1. Pipes are continually breaking
2. Sprinkler nozzles blow off
3. Spray is overshooting the desired areas
This entire check up will not take a very long time and should be done with some frequency as system do go awry.
If you want to spend some money to save some money, you can have a separate meter installed for your yard. It wil cost a few hundred dollars, but folks who do say that their bill is almost half of what it was, because water used for exterior purposes is charged at a lower rate. It would be wise before you to check with your water provider to see if they have a rate differential. Some communities have installed the "purple pipe" that has unpotable water that can be used for yards.
As we all become "greener" and more into conservation, there will probably be more inovations that will be available to assist us in being more "green".
posted by shirley harry at 8:05 AM
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