Date: Thu Jul 3 09:59:15 2008 Subject: Smart Irrigation Month Focuses On Saving Water And Money From: Citynewsroom -----BEGIN MD5 ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- CITY OF CALGARY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ----------------------------------------------------------------- Did you know most in-ground irrigation systems in Calgary are over watering? Some as much as four times the amount a lawn really needs to stay healthy. As part of the Irrigation Association’s Smart Irrigation month this July, The City is offering five smart irrigation tips to help Calgarians save water and money with their in -ground irrigation system. "Many of the in-ground irrigation systems we see are over watering,” notes Mike Meagher, Industrial Commercial Institutional Customer Co-ordinator, Water Services. “Generally, over watering is caused by an improperly installed, neglected or misused in-ground irrigation system. This can lead a property owner into wasting a lot of water and money.” In addition, over water can also create a less healthier landscape. “Excess watering can result in the development of a shorter root system that becomes more susceptible to the summer heat,” notes Mike. Aquatic life is also impacted by over watering that can carry away dirt and debris into our storm sewer system and eventually to our rivers. The good news is a few smart irrigation tips can ensure your in-ground irrigation system is working properly and efficiently: 1. Use a Certified Professional You can save water, time and potential problems by using certified irrigation professionals. These professions are trained and certified as designers, auditors, and contractors. To learn more about Certified Irrigation Professional visit the Alberta Chapter of the Irrigation Association's web site at www.irrigationalberta.org. 2. Scheduling Set up the sprinkler to water in the early morning - between 3 am and 7 am. This will reduce water lost to evaporation during the heat of the day and when there is the most wind. Most irrigation systems are over watering, it is expected that proper scheduling can reduce water use by 20 to 40%. 3. Fill a Frisbee, Free a River An upside down Frisbee holds 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water, which including rainfall is the amount a lawn needs each week. Many people mistakenly give their lawn four times that. Too much water is wasteful and bad for your lawn. This applies to all sprinklers - hose or in-ground. 4. Know your controller Know how to adjust the device that controls the sprinkler system. Shut it off when it's raining or if it's too windy. When it's too windy, you might be watering your neighbour's lawn or worse, the sidewalk. 5. Maintenance Check for leaks - there may be a puddle by the spray head or a soft spot on your lawn. Other signs of a leak are a musty smell or hissing sound. Also check the spray head alignment. Make sure nothing is blocking the heads and keep an eye out for damage. The City is doing its part to irrigate wisely. Currently, over 950 of The City’s 2,160 parks and open spaces are irrigating with a state-of-the-art water conservation technology. “The irrigation control systems at these sites are set to water at night and are connected to weather stations to ensure watering occurs only when plants need moisture, notes Denis Gourdeau, Water Management Co -ordinator, Parks. “They also detect leaks and, when there's a leak, they shut down to save water and prevent damage.” Parks is making every effort to keep older irrigation systems running efficiently to keep The City’s lawns and plants in good shape. "We are working continuously to upgrade our irrigation systems in our parks as funding becomes available", says Denis. For more information or to find out about other ways you can help conserve water visit our website www .calgary.ca/waterservices or call 3-1-1. -30- Public Contact Information: For more information or to find out about other ways you can help conserve water visit calgary.ca/waterservices or call 3 -1-1. Public Email Contact: 3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca -----END MD5 98f80ea049e50c23e4f217da31a990e3-----