Thanks to a warm winter and a cool spring, green lawns are quite the sight this season. But trying to keep them that way as dry summer weather settles in can quickly lead to uncommonly high water use.
An unexpected high water bill is the last thing your household needs, especially during these uncertain times. So it’s worth a reminder that SAWS water rates are set up to encourage conservation. So the more water you use, the more you pay per gallon.
That means you can save money quickly with even small reductions in water use. But it also means those who use large amounts of water will see a spike in their SAWS bill.
An in-ground sprinkler system can make it especially easy to rack up an enormous bill, since it can use 3,000 gallons or more each time it runs. And a system that’s not properly programmed or maintained can use even more.
If you are using an irrigation system or sprinkler, year-round guidelines encourage watering your landscape before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. As an alternative, you can save a lot of water by hand watering, which you can do any day, at any time — regardless of any drought stage.
For the latest drought stage information, visit saws.org/drought and follow @mySAWS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And remember to visit GardenStyleSA.com for weekly watering advice and landscaping tips to keep your yard looking great using less water.
