Water Wise Denton

Did you know on Monday we received 2.84" of rain? This was the largest amount of rain received in a day this year.

That same day, we used 23.4 Million Gallons of Water - which is in the top 3 highest demand days for the year. These two pieces of information suggest that automatic watering was taking place. This means sprinklers were set to run on certain days, and were not adjusted for rainfall.

While we always ask to be aware of your sprinkler system and to water only when necessary and according to your assigned watering days, there are steps that you can take to ensure that your sprinklers are not running when its raining or when the ground is already saturated. Rain sensors can be retrofitted to existing sprinkler systems. If enough rain has fallen, then the sensors let the timer know to skip the next cycle and not run. It's a convenient piece of technology. If you're out of town or just unaware of the weather forecast, the rain sensor will make sure your lawn isn't overwatered. Rain sensors are not cost prohibitive, and some are available for as little as 10$.

Yesterday we hit out highest demand day, at 23.9 Million Gallons, compared to yesterday which was out highest usage day at 23.2 Million Gallons.

While we saw an increase of 700,000 gallons of water used, it can be normal to see an upward trend as summer heat arrives.

The good news is that with the new summer watering schedule based on address, we should see less dramatic spikes in usages this summer. Please remember to water on your assigned days only.

Yesterday we hit our highest level of water demand in 2024 - which was 23.2 Million Gallons!

Unlike last year, this year we are heading into summer with both of our lakes, Ray Roberts and Lewisville, at 100% capacity. When lake levels are full, it is the perfect time to conserve - because there is water to be saved.

Now is a perfect time to check your sprinklers for leaks, add mulch to your garden, consider areas is your yard where you could be replacing turf with beautiful native plants.

Conservation is not limited to outdoor usage - you can make a big difference by only running your dishwasher when it is full, and taking shorter showers (aim for under 5 minutes).

A Dripping Faucet Wastes 3,000 Gallons!!!!

Believe it or not a dripping faucet wastes 3,000 gallons of water a year! Fixing even one leaky faucet can save a lot. Did you know a stuck toilet flapper can waste around 200 gallons per hour? Find more resources to help fix-a-leak.

• Old washers cause common faucet leaks and may be an easy fix. Or your faucet cartridge needs to be changed.
• Toilet leaks from worn-out flappers can cause major water loss and high bills. Learn how to replace a leaky toilet flapper.
• Leaks occur outdoors as well. Learn how to fix a leaky hose bib.
• Running sprinklers at night is recommended but issues are not easily seen. Be sure to inspect your sprinklers once a month and make sure everything is working correctly. Watch this DIY Sprinkler Repair presentation for an in-depth learning opportunity.

Last Saturday in advance of the rain we saw a significant amount of water used for irrigation. The best way to preserve our water is to save it when we have it.

We would like to remind our residents that we have implemented a city-wide irrigation schedule. Your lawn and garden only needs 1" of water per week. This water is best delivered slowly, in one or two watering sessions a week, so that the water may soak deep into the soil. When lawns and gardens are over-watered, shallow roots develop, which make it challenging for your plants to thrive when the summer heat arrives.

Thank you for adhering to the schedule (above) and helping us preserve our water resources.

Creating a Texas SmartScape comes with a bounty of benefits:

Lower water bills.

Typically native plants require 80 percent less water than non-native species. And once established they can survive on natural rainfall, without any help from us.

Disease-resistant plants

Native plants reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers. Decreasing our dependence on lawn care products keeps harmful chemicals from washing into our waterways during a downpour. That means a cleaner environment for all of us to enjoy.

Lower maintenance.

Save yourself some time on yardwork.

A diverse habitat.

Urbanization has reduced the variety of plants in our landscapes. SmartScape settings can help bring urban landscapes back to life. They offer diverse sources of food and provide a desirable sanctuary for songbirds, butterflies, and other Texas wildlife.

A fun project for the whole family.

Kids are natural-born diggers who can really appreciate the hands-on opportunity of a gardening facelift.

Different plants need different amounts of water, sun, and shade to survive.

Remember to group plants according to their light and watering needs. Creating water zones with plants that have similar water requirements will help you cut back on water waste.

Don’t forget to add mulch to landscape beds to help conserve water in the soil. Learn more about Texas native and adapted plants at North Central Texas SmartScape.

For free DIY informative brochures, click here: https://waterisawesome.com/articles/do-it-yourself-brochures

Did you know that Denton has taken a strategic approach to saving water and saving you money, by implementing a twice-a-week watering schedule? Most of the metroplex has implemented a twice weekly, year round schedule as well. Our Schedule is as follows:

Upper Trinity Regional Water District is hosting a FREE Water Talk on May 8th to discuss the benefits and practical tips for twice weekly watering. The event is online from 12pm-1pm.

Click the link below to learn more about the event and register to attend:

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Need some water-wise landscaping inspiration? On this episode of Texas Yard Makeover, let’s look at smart landscape design. The right design can help you save water. There are some basic principles you can start using in your yard right away.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA) just released an updated outlook for May, June and July.

NOAA is still predicting another hotter than average beginning to summer. Now is a good time to plant and establish your waterwise perennials before the heat sets in.