WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – As of Monday, Wichita is under Stage 2 of a drought response plan , and the City is sharing tips on how to save water outside.
According to the City of Wichita, over 20% of the average Wichitan’s water usage can be attributed to use outside the home, mainly during the summer. So, this first set of tips will be focused on outdoor water conservation.
Watering tips:
- Water before 10 a.m. – Water your grass before 10 a.m. to avoid the hottest times of the day. Watering during the early morning will increase efficiency, as less water will evaporate. Early morning watering also helps to avoid fungal problems associated with late evening and night watering. Remember, residents can only water once a week at designated times.
- Use a rain barrel – Capture rainwater with a rain barrel to use later for watering your plants. Not only is this a great way to reuse water that would otherwise be lost, the cost of the rain barrel (up to $75) is covered by the City’s Water Conservation Rebate Program !
- Water your lawn only when needed – Think your lawn needs water? Walk across it. If the blades of grass spring back up, you can wait another day before watering. Are your footsteps still visible? If so, there isn’t much water left inside the blades of grass, which means it’s time to turn on the sprinklers.
- Don’t water when it’s windy – Try not to water when the wind is above 15 miles per hour as the majority of the water could miss the intended areas. Also, high wind speeds significantly speed up evaporation, which means that the water that does stay on course is less effective.
- Upgrade your sprinkler system – Consider purchasing a smart irrigation system controller. Not only can it save you a lot of water and eventually pay for itself, it’s an eligible item in the City’s Water Conservation Rebate Program! Don’t have the money for a smart irrigation controller but still want to save water and money? Try installing a rainwater shutoff valve. They aren’t part of the rebate program but they are more affordable and can still save a lot of water.
- Go the extra mile – For the most efficient and effective watering system possible, consider hiring a professional for an irrigation system audit. The audit can pinpoint problem spots and result in conservation improvements which can more than pay for the cost of the audit.