If your New Year’s resolution is to save money and lower your water bill, your lawn might be a great place to start.
In Polk County, irrigation should account for 30% of residential water usage; however, some areas are reporting up to 50%. Some Polk County Utilities (PCU) customers average up to 2,309 gallons of water per day on lawn irrigation alone. That’s about the same amount of water that a Polk County Fire Rescue tanker truck can hold.
El alto consumo de agua no sólo afecta al suministro de agua del Condado de Polk, sino también a su factura mensual de agua. Sin embargo, usted puede reducir su uso mensual de agua para riego tomando algunas medidas sencillas.
Antes de buscar formas de conservar el agua mediante el riego del césped o del jardín, primero debe asegurarse de que está siguiendo las directrices de riego del condado de Polk. Para los clientes residenciales y comerciales de PCU, el riego del césped está limitado a dos veces por semana, independientemente de la fuente de agua. Los propietarios que no se adhieran a estas restricciones podrían enfrentarse a multas. Consulte las directrices de riego de césped y jardines para obtener más información.
Here are five ways to conserve money on your water bill by conserving water on your lawn:
- Check your irrigation timer. Irrigation system timers sometimes reset after a power outage or a heavy storm. If your property experienced a power outage during the last hurricane season, your irrigation timer may have reset to the default setting without your knowledge. If this is the case, your lawn could be receiving water more often than you had intended, which wastes water and increases your monthly bill.
- Make sure all areas of your lawn are being watered evenly. Now that you have checked your irrigation timer settings, are you sure that all areas of your lawn are receiving the same amount of water? If your sprinkler system is set up so that some areas are receiving more water than others, it could be costing you extra money. You can check your irrigation system’s efficiency by conducting a catch-can test. Here’s a step-by-step video from Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).
- Check for leaks. Even a small leak can drip hundreds of gallons of water per month – and leak money out of your wallet. Check all water faucets, hoses and connectors to make sure they are in good, working order. Also make sure that all faucets are completely closed when not in use.
- Adjust your lawn irrigation schedule based on the season. When is the best time to water your lawn? Ideally, it is best to water your lawn in the morning before 10 a.m. This is especially useful during hot Florida months to prevent water loss from evaporation. If it’s cold outside in Florida, #SkipaWeek of watering and only water your lawn when it’s necessary. During the colder months, your lawn does not need as much watering. In fact, if you have received any significant rainfall recently, you can turn off your irrigation system and operate it manually as needed. Here’s how you can tell it’s time to water your lawn:
- Las hojas de hierba se doblan por la mitad
- La hierba se está volviendo de color gris azulado
- Cuando sales, tus huellas permanecen en el césped.
5. Makeover your lawn by planting a Florida-friendly landscape. A Florida-friendly lawn is one that requires minimal water, fertilizers and pesticides to thrive. This type of landscaping consists of drought-tolerant plants and trees. In addition to reducing your outdoor water usage, Florida-friendly landscapes provide habitats for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Don’t know where to start? Contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041.
El condado de Polk quiere ayudarle a ahorrar agua
PCU ofrece una revisión del sistema de aspersores sin coste alguno a los usuarios de agua de gran volumen que hayan consumido una media de al menos 14.000 galones de agua al mes durante un periodo de tres meses. El programa está disponible para viviendas unifamiliares y multifamiliares y empresas comerciales.
To qualify, Polk County Utilities customers must meet these requirements:
- Ser cliente de PCU conectado desde hace al menos 12 meses.
- Tener un sistema de riego paisajístico ya instalado.
- Utiliza una media de 14.000 galones al mes en los últimos tres meses.
Si reúne los requisitos, PCU enviará un técnico a su casa para que revise su sistema de rociadores sin coste alguno para usted. Cada evaluación incluirá:
- Irrigation system evaluation with site-specific recommendations. A technician will provide you with personalized irrigation strategies for your landscaping.
- Assistance with proper irrigation timer settings.
- System functionality check. Are all your spray heads in working order? Do you have a sneaky line leak? The technician will inform you of any issues.
- Rain sensor evaluation and installation. Rain sensors tell your irrigation system to shut off after significant rainfall so that your landscaping does not receive an excess of water. While the cost of the rain sensor is the responsibility of the property owner, a technician can help with installation as part of the sprinkler system check-up.
- Smart timer installation. Smart timers can be managed from a phone or a tablet, which is ideal for part-time Polk County residents who need to be able to control their irrigation system remotely. The purchase of the smart timer is also the responsibility of the property owner.
Para ver si usted califica para una evaluación gratuita del sistema de rociadores, póngase en contacto con PCU al (863) 298-4244.
Does your water use not quite reach an average of 14,000 gallons per month? Still, reach out. PCU can give you tips on how to lower your water usage and your monthly water bill.
Las asociaciones de propietarios y las empresas de gestión de viviendas también pueden optar a una evaluación del sistema de riego.