Press Room

Phoenix March 18th, 2006

Arizona cities come together to help homeowners control what is often their biggest water waster: Irrigation Timers

CONTACT:
DeEtte Person
Phone: 480-620-7685
persongroup@cox.net

A new irrigation controller instructional section on wateruseitwisely.com makes setting your timer easier than programming your VCR.

As the rest of the country springs ahead and sets their clocks forward for daylight savings time, Arizonans are doing the same with their irrigation timers to prepare for the hot summer months.  Unfortunately, as they spring their timers forward, most homeowners typically schedule far too much time for their landscape watering, accounting for as much as 80 percent of the water used around their homes.

Setting your irrigation system’s automatic timer is now easier than programming your VCR, thanks to Valley cities that have created a new irrigation controller instructional section on wateruseitwisely.com
"At first glance, irrigation controllers can be intimidating," said Jeff Lee, Water Management Technician for the city of Mesa.  "One of the greatest mistakes people make is confusing zone settings with start times, which can lead to enormous water waste, large utility bills, and landscapes that actually die from overwatering and not the heat."
In addition to the irrigation timer tutorials, the Web site features an interactive watering guide that helps you determine precisely how much water you need for turf, Xeriscape plants and trees, as well as a host of other highly-effective water saving tips.

Homeowners also can get free hands-on training by attending Water - Use It Wisely irrigation workshops on Saturday, April 1st, at all 18 Arizona Lowe's home improvement stores.  Lowe's will be hosting water conservation workshops on the first Saturday of every month in preparation for a month-long Water - Use It Wisely consumer outreach promotion in October.
"Through working with participating cities in Arizona and the Salt River Project, Lowe’s is able to help consumers conserve this important natural resource," said Michael Chenard, Director of Environmental Affairs.  “We're excited to offer continued water conservation education particularly during this time of record low rainfall."

The average Arizonan uses 138 gallons of water per day, with as much as two-thirds of that water being used outdoors.  Using irrigation timers correctly can reduce water usage by as much as 50 percent.

An irrigation controller uses programmed information to automatically turn water on and off through various valves on the timer.  It runs at scheduled intervals and typically has several valves or “stations” to effectively deliver water to trees or shrubs at a different frequency and length of time than to turf or flowers.  This feature is particularly useful since some landscaping only requires watering every 10 to 14 days compared to grass and flowers, which generally need water more regularly.
Controllers can be purchased at home improvement stores, nurseries and irrigation stores, and range in price from $50 to $200 depending on the model. 

The following are guidelines for properly irrigating your landscape to conserve water: 

• Desert-adapted plants require longer periods between watering; therefore, it is best to purchase a timer with a schedule length of 14 days or greater. 
• Overwatering can sometimes be more detrimental to plants than underwatering, causing disease and lack of oxygen to the roots. 
• Adjust sprinkler heads so that only the lawn is being watered, not the house or sidewalk.
• Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation.
• Water summer lawns of Bermuda once every three to five days.
• Aerate your lawn so water will reach the roots instead of running off the surface.
• Remember to check sprinkler system valves and drip emitters for leaks.
• Don’t run sprinklers on windy days – most of the water will be lost to evaporation.
• Water plants more deeply but less frequently to create healthier landscapes.
• Water enough to wet the root zone of a plant, where the plant’s feeder roots are concentrated.
• Moisten the soil to about one foot deep for flowers or cacti and two feet for shrubs and three feet for trees.  About one inch of water on the surface will penetrate about eight inches into the soil.            
• The best time to water or irrigate is in the early morning between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. to minimize water loss from evaporation. 
• Turn off your irrigation timers during or after rainfall to eliminate unnecessary watering.
• Timers are useful when grass or other landscape needs to be watered in intervals to avoid runoff.  Controllers allow you to set several different start times throughout the day.
• Frequency of watering depends on the plant type, weather conditions, plant size, soil type and plant maturity. 

For more information on the appropriate use of irrigation timers, and 100+ other ways to save water, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com.

About Water – Use It Wisely

INSERT City-appropriate information here: 
The City of Mesa is one of the founding partners of the Water - Use It Wisely campaign, which launched in 1999 to promote an on-going water conservation ethic among Arizona's rapidly growing population.  Other partners include the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Peoria, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Avondale, Surprise, Prescott Valley, and Bullhead City. Additional partners include the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, Gila Resources, Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona, Global Water Resources, Arizona-American Water Company, Central Arizona Project, Bureau of Reclamation, Lowe’s, and SRP.

Following Arizona's lead, more than 300 towns, cities, states, utilities, and private and public organizations have adopted the Water - Use It Wisely campaign and are running the program throughout North America. 
           

# # #