Ways to save outdoors

Every Drop Count$ -- Implementing efficient practices can lower your water bill

Conserving water is great for the environment and it’s also good for your finances. Finding ways to use less water can help you lower your bill each month.

Fort Worth Water bills you in tiers, or levels, based on the amount of water you use. As you use more water, additional water is billed at increasingly higher costs.

New meters are being installed across the city that will allow you to see your usage on an hourly basis. Once complete, you will be able to evaluate your daily usage patterns and find ways to manage those tiers more effectively.

Our 8-part video series on irrigation systems helps you learn more to make your irrigation system work more efficiently. View them at SaveFortWorthWater and on Fort Worth Water YouTube.

Every gallon saved adds up—to help you manage your tier charges and reduce your water bill this month and in the future—and keep clean, safe water affordable for you, your neighbors and future generations.

1. The first step to saving water outdoors is to only water when it’s needed. Sign up for the Weekly Watering Advice. You will get an email or text that lets you know how much water your yard needs each week. It’s based on weather service date for your zip code.
2. Make sure your irrigation system is working properly. Sign up for a free irrigation system evaluation to get a written assessment of your system.
3. Get the help of an irrigation professional to learn how to use your irrigation system. Smart irrigation controllers may not be so smart if not programmed to meet the needs of your system and lawn. 

   If your power goes out and your irrigation controller backup battery is dead, your system may revert to a schedule that includes more water use and more watering days than you had scheduled before. This could violate the city’s conservation ordinance and may increase your bill substantially. 

4. Follow the City of Fort Worth year-round watering requirements. Watering twice a week is the MAXIMUM irrigation use allowed. Most of the year, you will probably need to water less frequently.
5. Don’t water by irrigation or sprinklers between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is a violation of the city watering requirements and you’ll lose up to 50% of that water you are paying for to evaporation.
6. Consider using native and adapted plants in your landscape. They use less water and can still thrive during periods of drought.
7. Replace your irrigation system with drip irrigation in your flower and garden beds. Drip irrigation can use up to 50% less water because it’s more efficient.
8. Use the "catch can test" to find out if you are watering too long. If you want to water ½”, time how long it takes for the can to fill to that level, and adjust your watering time. Watering too much results in runoff, wasting water.
9. Use a "cycle and soak" process. Cycle and soak reduces runoff and increases soil absorption of the water, getting to the roots of the plants. You’ll waste less water and water more deeply so you can water less frequently.
10. Remember, when you irrigate you are using treated drinking water that you are paying for. Set up a rainwater harvesting system to collect free, untreated water for plants.
11. Don’t hose down the driveway and sidewalks after you mow. Sweep the clippings back on to the lawn instead.
12. Pools utilize a lot of water. Click here to see ways you can $ave.