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Connecticut Irrigation Association Water Saving Tips

Avoid Water Restrictions Through Water Conservation

1. Check and adjust your irrigation system program weekly. Take natural rainfall into consideration when programming.
2. Water lawns thoroughly but not too often. (About 1” per week on most soils.) Don’t over water your lawn.
3. Water lawns and plantings separately. Plantings generally have larger and deeper root zones and require less frequent watering.
4. Know your soil type. Sandy soils may need more water. Sloped or clay soil may require more frequent light watering to avoid runoff (cycle and soak).
5. Water during early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
6. Mulch flowerbeds, gardens and landscape beds with a porous material to retain moisture. Mulching also helps control weeds that compete with plants for water.
7. Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered as frequently and they usually will survive a dry period without any watering.
8. Group plants together based on similar water needs.
9. Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Low trajectory nozzles for windy sites. Micro and drip irrigation for landscaped areas.
10. Check sprinkler heads for rotation and check for broken or clogged sprinklers.
11. Check to make sure rain shut off device is operating properly.
12. Set sprinklers to water your lawn and landscaped areas only. Do not over spray onto driveways, sidewalks, etc.
13. Always use a sharp mower blade.
14. Never remove more than 25-30% of the leaf blade when mowing. If you are then you need to mow more frequently.
15. Raise the height of cut to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
16. Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers that contain slow release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
     

Additional Water Saving Tips For During a Drought

1. Do not water lawns and plants until first signs of stress occur.
2. Prioritize areas within your site for irrigation. Not all areas may need to be irrigated. Most turf grass species will go dormant during a drought and green back up when sufficient rains return.
3. Hire an Irrigation Association Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor to conduct an audit on your site and irrigation system and to make recommendations to the system and develop a base schedule for programming the system.
    

Ways in which the Connecticut Irrigation Contractors Association (CICA) is helping to Promote Water Conservation

1. The CICA in conjunction with the Irrigation Association (IA), has been promoting water conservation too its members and the end users of automatic irrigation systems.
2. The CICA has held a CICA University for many years during the winter months teaching efficient irrigation system design, scheduling, troubleshooting, business practices, etc. for its members and all others involved in irrigation to help conserve water.
3. The CICA is teaching its membership and all others involved in irrigation that the concept of applying water to the soil and plant surfaces at a prescribed rate and time is of the utmost importance for water conservation.
4. The CICA has been stressing the importance of proper irrigation design, scheduling and efficiency to its members, others involved in irrigation and most importantly the end users.
5. The CICA has been stressing the fact that there are different water requirements for different plants, soil conditions, other site factors, etc. to its membership and all others involved in irrigation as well as all end users.
6. The CICA is currently working with the their lobbyist on introducing a bill for legislation mandating all new irrigation systems must have a rain shut off device installed.
7. The CICA has been active in working with the State of Connecticut and the local water purveyor promoting water conservation before water bans are implemented.
8. The CICA formed a Water Conservation Committee (WCC) to help educate all those involved in irrigation and all end users of the importance of water conservation.
9. The CICA WCC has developed a list of water saving tips to help avoid water restrictions and educate the public in regard to water conservation.
10. The CICA WCC is trying to form a coalition amongst all green industry associations doing business with in the State of Connecticut as well as the appropriate State of Connecticut departments to work together on water conservation issues.