July is Smart Irrigation Month

July is "Smart Irrigation Month" nationwide and Fort Worth is joining other water providers to offer education and tips to help customers reduce water use during the peak summer months.

Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative of the Irrigation Association (IA) with the goal to educate, inform and reduce summer water demand. IA estimates that homeowners and property managers overwater lawns and landscapes up to 30 percent in the summer.

Not sure where to start or what to do? Consider these simple tips:

• Don't drown it.  Remember it can only absorb so much so give it a deep drink, about one inch, once a week.
• Run before the sun.  Set your sprinklers to water early in the morning so you don't compete with the sun.  You'll also reduce evaporation.
• Seek a leak. Check your irrigation system for leaks, broken heads and nozzles. Leaks account for about 40 percent of water waste.
• Switch to Drip. Drip irrigation is more efficient, virtually eliminating water waste because water seeps directly into plant, tree and shrub roots.
• Improve, Enhance and Increase. Clay soil is compact and slow in absorption. Increase plant growth by improving and enhancing the lawn with compost, mulch or other organic/inorganic material.
• Cycle, Soak, Repeat. Fort Worth has clay soil which is hard, compact and slow to absorb, so water for a short period, then allow time for it to soak, and repeat.

Watering smart today helps ensure a reliable water supply for tomorrow. Thank you for caring for Fort Worth's water.

For more tips, visit our irrigation section, www.smartirrigationmonth.org or www.epa.gov.