Water Wise Denton

Ahead of the snow on Thursday January 9^th, 2025, turn off your irrigation system. Your grass and plants are in a dormant state, so it is unnecessary to water in the winter months. Additionally, turning off your irrigation system will prevent pipes from bursting and mitigate the icy conditions for the roads nearby.

It is important to refer to your controller manual on how to turn off your system and it is recommended to contact your irrigator.

With the below freezing temperatures we’ve recently, it’s important to double check that your backflow device is protected. Like other plumbing fixtures that sit outside, as water freezes it can break pipes leading to significant water leaks that often can go undetected for weeks. After a period of freezing weather, or whenever you turn on your irrigation system again, be sure to uncover your backflow assembly and inspect it for any leaks or damage.

You may recognize backflow devices from your yard, but many are unaware of the important role they play in keeping drinking water safe. There are several different scenarios which can lead to water running from your irrigation system back into the water supply system. This can introduce contaminants that make water unsafe to drink. Keeping these protected and inspected annually can go a long way to ensuring safe drinking water for your family and community.

Take a look at the graphic below describing how to safely winterize the backflow device in your yard.

Rain barrels are a great way to harvest rain for watering potted plants and landscapes. The best place for a rain barrel is underneath a roof corner where all the water falls or the end of a downspout. This is an effective way to conserve water and save some money. You can purchase a rain barrel or make your own using a large container, adding a debris screen to the top, an overflow hose at the top and installing a spigot at the bottom. Make sure to elevate your barrel so that it can gravity feed. Pictured below are some ideas for your rain barrel.

For more information check out:

Soak Up the Rain: Rain Barrels | US EPA

A soil moisture sensor is technology that detects the amount of moisture underground and keeps the irrigation system from watering when the soil is saturated. This provides real time information keeping systems from overwatering. It can be purchased as an add on to your irrigation system to help water more efficiently. The types of soil moisture sensors that can be purchased range in technology so check out the link below to find the best one for your system.

Soil Moisture-Based Irrigation Controllers | US EPA

A shut off valve is a plumbing fixture that can turn off the water in your home. Individual shut off valves can usually be found behind or underneath the appliance in your home. Your main water shut off valve is typically going to be along an outside wall that faces your street. It is important to know where your main shut off valve is in case you need to turn off your water to make repairs. Outside your home will be another shut off at the water meter. You will need a water meter key to access this, which can be purchased at a local hardware store.

Help clean Denton's waterways this Saturday December 7th.

Temperatures dipping below freezing for a long period of time can be fatal to your home's water system if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Here are a few things you can do:

1. For every faucet, turn on the cold tap and let the water drip a slow, steady stream. This should be about 7 drops a minute.
2. Open the cabinets below where the pipes are located for every faucet, especially areas of your home where an outside wall is directly on the other side.
3. Cover your outside faucets. You can buy faucet covers, or you can DIY using a towel and some tape.
4. Turn off your sprinklers!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

There are two types of WaterSense labelled controllers which are weather-based and soil moisture-based irrigation controllers. Both are created to better match your plants watering needs. Weather-based uses local weather data to determine if irrigation should continue or be skipped. Soil-moisture based uses sensors in-ground to determine if irrigation should continue or be skipped.

For more information check out:

WaterSense Labeled Controllers | US EPA

A rain garden is best for that low area, most likely near a gutter, in your flower bed that is constantly washed out. It is designed so that when it rains the water is redirected for native plants to enjoy the water. It is the best way to reduce runoff in your garden beds and it will save you some headache that a wash out can create. Pictured below are some examples of a rain garden.

For more information check out:

Soak Up the Rain: Rain Gardens | US EPA