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Bring your city water bill to Public Works to receive a FREE water conserving device. We have faucet aerators and toilet tank bottles in stock.
Public Works * 1776 Grogan Avenue, Merced *
Winter is here and that means it is time to turn off your automatic sprinkler timers. Most lawns will get plenty of water this season from the rain. It may only be necessary to turn on your sprinklers sporadically, if at all. Set your watering goal of no run-off. And be sure to follow the odd/even watering schedule: Addresses ending in an odd number can water on Sundays, Wednesday, and Fridays. Addresses ending in an even number can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Direcciones con numeros para 0, 2,4, 6, o 8 riegan en Martes, Jueves & Sabado. Direcciones con numbers impares 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 riegan en Domingo, Miercoles & Viernes. Water only in the morning or in the evening; no mid-day watering between 11 AM and 7 PM. No riegues el Lunes & durante las 11 a.m. a las 7 p.m. Call 385-6800 for more information.
Did you know that California is one of the top pumpkin producing states? Did you know that pumpkins are 90 % water? Can you imagine how much water it takes to grow one of these 90% water fruits? Yes, pumpkins are a fruit.
According to allaboutpumpkins.com, the secret to growing a healthy pumpkin is to only water it when needed. Check the moisture in the soil. As long as the moisture is good and your plant looks happy, leave it alone. When the soil is starting to dry out, or the plant starts to look a bit droopy, and it’s your watering day, give it a long deep drink. Deep but infrequent watering results in a healthier plant. And remember, no watering on Monday’s citywide.
It is important not to get water on the pumpkin plant leaves, you can hand water your plants, use drip irrigation, or use a soaker hose. And it’s best to water in the early morning instead of late in the evening, to help stave off fungal diseases. Don’t water between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., that is the hottest part of the day and least effective time to water. When your pumpkin fruit starts to turn orange, gradually decrease the amount of water. Your pumpkins will store longer if you stop watering 7 - 10 days before you harvest.
Speaking of water, be sure not to irrigate your front yard two to three days before Halloween; this will assure that your yard is dry so that trick-or-treaters won’t get wet feet and possibly slip or trip in their spooky costumes.
Water Wise Ways to Fall into Winter
Fall is in full swing and it is a great time of year to go on a water conserving “diet”. We have enough wet days and the temperature is dropping so our lawns require no additional watering to stay healthy during these falling into winter months. The City has shut off the parks irrigation all around town as we fall into winter and we are asking you to do the same thing at home.
Water is a finite resource in Merced and worldwide. Did you know that although we are surrounded by water only 3% of it is fresh water? And most of that water is frozen, leaving only 1% available to be harvested, treated (if needed) and distributed for drinking. Not only that, but the amount of water we have on the earth is the same as it has always been, yet our population has grown and will continue to grow. We need to protect our vital water resources from overuse and pure waste. Keep in mind that run-off of irrigation water is a sign that your lawn has become saturated and the water that you are sprinkling on it is simply being wasted down the drain. This is a great time of year to become water conscious and go on that water conserving “diet”.
As fall turns to winter, you want to make sure to repair any leaks to prevent water loss and possible hazardous situations. And this fall make a plan to wrap your exposed water pipes with insulation to prevent frozen pipes from bursting. Wrapping your pipes is a better alternative to leaving a faucet on. A running faucet can waste 100’s of gallons of water.
Consider installing low cost rain barrels for harvesting rain run-off for outside irrigation during dry times. For other water conserving tips, call the City of Merced, water division at 385-6800.
Don’t Flush Our Most Precious Resource down the Drain
“Shhh, swoosh”, that’s the sound of our community’s most precious resource being flushed down the drain. Every day your typical Merced resident uses in excess of a hundred gallons of water to cover their basic needs. The City of Merced Water Division would like to challenge you to ramp up your water saving ways by not flushing water needlessly down the drain. We have several tips that can help save water and thus save you dollars on your utility bill.
Did you know that 30% of your household water is simply flushed down the toilet drain? Can you imagine how much water would be conserved if you simply switched out your old 5 gallon toilet with an energy efficient ultra-low-flow toilet? You could literally save thousands of gallons each year by replacing that old toilet with an ultra-low-flow toilet that uses just under 1.6 gallons of water per flush. An alternative to purchasing new toilet would be to place a water displacement devise in your tank to offset some of the water in the toilet tank. You can accomplish this rather inexpensively by filling an empty plastic milk jug with water and placing it in the tank.
Another great way to save household water is making sure not to run your dishwasher or clothes washer with a half load. Just as much water is used in a full load as in a half load. Showers are more water efficient than baths. A full bathtub uses about 70 gallons of water, but a 5-minute shower using a low-flow showerhead only uses about 10 to 25 gallons. And when you are running that water to heat it up, try placing a bucket in the shower to collect the cold water to use elsewhere in the house. You can later use that water to fill your pet’s water bowl or water your plants.
An unchecked water leak can really increase your water bill and waste water resources. A leaky faucet that can fill an 8 ounce container in less than 30 minutes could waste as much as 1,225 gallons of water each year. And if you hear your toilet flowing when not in use, it is like having an open faucet. Speaking of open faucets, if you run the water faucet while brushing your teeth, you can expect to waste about 2 gallons of water per minute. It’s amazing how much water is simply wasted by our everyday habits.
The City of Merced Water Division would like to remind you to help save our water by remembering these helpful tidbits when using water in our everyday lives.
Ben Franklin once said, “When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.” For more information on water conservation, please call the City of Merced Water Division at 209-385-6800 .
The City of Merced Water Conservation Ordinance is in effect year-round.We are requesting your cooperation in continuing to follow the water schedule. Click here to see the Watering Schedule.
You may water your lawns and shrubs according to your street address (ODD – 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9; EVEN – 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8). ODD #'s on Sunday, Wednesday & Friday, EVEN #'s on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. On your days, water only in the morning before 11 AM or in the evening after 7 PM.
NO MIDDAY WATERING.
WATERING IS NOT ALLOWED ON MONDAY
In addition to the “ODD/EVEN” watering schedule, certain other uses are prohibited as follows:
·Washing of sidewalks, driveways, porches or other outdoor surfaces, except when necessary to protect public health and safety; however, buildings may be washed down once a year.
·Operation of any ornamental fountain unless it uses a re-circulating water system.
·The washing of boats, motor homes, or automobiles and trucks with a hose that is not fitted with an automatic shut-off device.
·The indiscriminate running or wasting of water, EXAMPLE: Excessive irrigation causing runoff and flooding.
·Allowing broken or defective plumbing or irrigation systems which permit the escape or leakage of water.
Should you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact Public Works Administration at #385-6800.
HELPFUL WATER CONSERVATION SUGGESTIONS:
* Water your lawn only when needed, three times a week on your watering days late at night or early in the morning to keep evaporation to a minimum.
* Check your sprinkler timers and reduce watering times to less than 10-15 minutes.
* Apply a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss and prevent excessive weed growth
* Use a broom to sweep outdoors.
* Ask your local nursery for suggestions on drought tolerant plants. They do not need to be watered as much and can survive a dry period without any watering.
* Check your sprinkler heads, valves and drip emitters monthly for leaks and make sure the sprinkler heads are aimed properly.
* Check for other household leaks. Leaks allow water and your money to go down the drain. To help detect hidden leaks, turn off anything that uses water and see if your water meter is still moving. If it is, there could be a leak somewhere on your property.
* Adjust your watering schedule for each season. In fall, you can reduce your watering by half. By December, you can turn off your irrigation system completely.
* If you notice someone wasting water, call the Public Works Department at 385-6800 to report it or click on this e-mail link to send us a note, publicwks@cityofmerced.org. In your e-mail include time of day, date, and address of location of water wasting.
* Water Conservation helps save resources and your money!
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