Water Conservation
SO... HOW MUCH WATER DOES MY LAWN NEED?
Most lawns in the Kennewick Irrigation District grow within the first foot of soil, so it’s important to keep that layer appropriately moist. With the moisture-holding capacity of that layer approximately 1.2 to 1.5 inches of water per foot of soil, the U S Soil Conservation Service recommends that you apply 1.2 to 1.5 inches of water per watering.
So how do you figure out about how much that is?
- Set a can or pie plate under your sprinkler when you turn it on.
- Sprinkle until the depth of water in the can or pie plate reaches 1". Note how long this takes.
- Don't sprinkle again until the top two or three inches of soil are dry to the touch.
Under normal conditions, you should now know how long to water at a time (from step two), and how long to wait between waterings (from step three).
our grass can grow in overly wet soil, but over-watering isn't good for your lawn. When water is constantly available near the surface, plant roots remain short. That dramatically limits their ability to withstand dry conditions-and the Tri-Cities area is known to be a very dry area.
To find out more about water conservation, visit www.usbr.gov or call your local WSU Extension Service Master Gardener at 736-2726. Master Gardeners are usually available at their offices (5600 W Canal Place in Kennewick) from 10AM till Noon and 1PM till 3PM, Monday through Friday.
IS THERE ANYTHING SIMPLE THAT I CAN DO TO SAVE WATER?
Of course! We thought you'd never ask!
- When you wash a car, use a bucket, sponge & sprayer on the end of a hose
- Sweep your driveway instead of spraying it clean with water
- Water the lawn with "gray" water from tubs, basins and the laundry
- Turn off the sprinklers in rainy or windy conditions
- Check automatic sprinkler systems for proper operation frequently
- Check sprinklers to make sure they aren’t watering streets and sidewalks
Thanks for asking! Here is a pdf file version of a brochure that the KID put out last year to help you figure out just how to track the amount of water being used.
HOW DO I LANDSCAPE MORE INTELLIGENTLY FOR A DRIER CLIMATE?
Well, most certainly! Here’s how:
- Use drought-tolerant (water-conserving) plants and grasses. Local nurseries can help you choose appropriately.
- Learn the signs of plant thirst: grass turns a dull blue-green color and stays flat when walked upon; shrubs and ornamental plants droop and lose their gloss.
- Use drip irrigation where possible. Delivering the water slower and in smaller doses directly at the plant’s root can save as much as 50% to 70% when misting, runoff, wind drift and evaporation are minimized this way.
- Use a watering can or a hose with a close-off valve or sprayer when you hand-water.
- Mulch lawn clippings back into your grass or use them in your garden. Decaying grass clippings add moisture and nutrients back into the yard, which then requires less water.
- Allow your grass to grow a little longer before cutting. Longer blades block out the sun, which shades grass roots and retains moisture.
- Watering only every third day, but for longer periods, encourages plants to grow deep root systems.
IS THERE MAINTENANCE WORK I SHOULD DO REGULARLY?
Of course!
IN THE SPRING
- Before the water is turned on (mid-March), make sure the gate valve on your irrigation riser is OFF.
- Once the water is turned on, check the irrigation riser, valve, solenoid and the rest of your system for leaks.
IN THE AUTUMN
- Make SURE that the water is off (should be by mid-October) before you do anything with the system, then locate the KID riser for your lot and open it wide to drain.
- Once the riser and valve have drained completely, winterize your property’s irrigation system, whether a full system or just hoses and a couple of sprinklers.
- After the system has been drained, close the KID gate valve valves for awhile, then reopen it. Do this several times to make sure no water is trapped; then close it for the winter.
Winterization Procedures
Homeowners can prevent the KID valve and riser in their yard from freezing which in turn will help keep maintenance costs down and prevent a leaky or broken valve next spring.
Complete the following steps to winterize your irrigation riser:
- Ensure that the water delivery to your home has ended for the season.
- Drain the KID riser and valve. This can be done by disconnecting hoses and/or the irrigation system from the KID riser, and opening the gate valve shown in attached figures. If it is not possible to disconnect the irrigation system from the riser, you will need to open all sprinkler valves and then let gravity empty the system. Drain times will vary from home to home so please be patient and wait for the water to stop flowing out of the riser.
- Once the water flow has stopped, winterize your irrigation system. Consult with a professional to determine the proper winterization procedure for your irrigation system. Warning: Personal injury and/or property loss can and will occur if winterization is done improperly or incompletely!
- After your system has been professionally drained, fully open and close the KID gate valve several times to ensure that water is not trapped inside the valve or riser, see figure 1 and 2.
- Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until both your sprinkler system and the KID riser are completely free of water.
- Finally, close the KID gate valve and leave it closed. If the irrigation system was disconnected from the riser, do not reconnect it until spring startup.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, WHILE YOU HAVE OUR ATTENTION?
A few more tips.
If you have a problem with your irrigation system, please check these things before you call:
- Do you have more sprinklers turned on than your system can support?
- Is there a kinked hose somewhere in the works?
- Is there a dirty or plugged filter in the system?
- Is a sprinkler head plugged?
- Is your pump plugged?
If none of the above is a problem, call 586-9111. A member of our field crew will stop by. When service is restarting for the year (April and May) the wait time for help can be quite awhile, but we’ll get there as soon as we can.
Thank you!