July is time to learn about smarter watering to conserve

SPOKANE - July is Smart Irrigation Month. Despite recent rains, water is still in short supply in many parts of the Inland Northwest. Nearly half of all the water used in an entire year is consumed in the summer months. This means we use more water for outdoor watering than all other uses. The national Irrigation Association started the observation of Smart Irrigation Month in 2005 to help raise awareness about the value of water efficiency. In the Spokane Coeur d’Alene area, the Regional Water Conservation Collaboration will emphasize Smart Irrigation Month by offering tips, workshops, and tours. The Regional Water Conservation Collaboration is a group of local governments, water providers, non-profit organizations, interested businesses, and state agencies in North Idaho and northeastern Washington that collaborate, share information, and use resources efficiently to promote water conservation in the region. “Water conservation is fundamental to ensuring water availability in the future,” said Brook Beeler, environmental educator with the Department of Ecology’s Spokane office. “Using water more efficiently will lessen the effects of our limited water supply. Everyone can use more efficient irrigation practices to keep their lawn and gardens healthy, minimize waste, and save money.” Watering practices to avoid in order to “Slow the Flow” include: * Don’t sprinkle between noon and 6 p.m. Some experts have shown that 50% of water can be lost to evaporation when sprinkling during the day. * Don’t let your hose run. While washing your car, use a nozzle or shut off the faucet until you spray. Running a 5/8-inch hose for 30 minutes wastes up to 150 gallons of water. * Don’t water streets and sidewalks. Adjust your sprinkler to avoid the pavement; otherwise, evaporation will claim all the water that doesn’t end up on your lawn. “Slow the Flow” is the city of Spokane’s slogan for its water conservation program. The city is a member of the Regional Water Conservation Collaboration. For water users who want to get their hands dirty and really save, a new how-to website, spokanesmartscape.com, has been launched by the Spokane County Conservation District with watershed planning funds from the Department of Ecology. It provides detailed information about low water use landscaping. Website visitors can choose from five sample landscape designs; preview native, low water use plants and read Spokane Smartscape success stories. During July water users have several opportunities to learn more: From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2010, irrigation professionals can watch live product demonstrations and learn about the newest “Smart Irrigation” controllers at the Water Conservation Summit and Field Day for irrigation professionals. The event is sponsored by Ewing Co., an irrigation supply company in Spokane. For more information, contact Dan Watt at 509- 921-9530. From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 10, homeowners can learn the basics about saving water in home landscapes at the Water Conservation Summit and Field Day for homeowners, also sponsored by Ewing in Spokane. For more information, contact Dan Watt at 509-921-9530. The Coeur d’ Alene Garden Club’s 13th Annual Tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 11 where the Kootenai Environmental Alliance and the city of Coeur d’ Alene will feature a xeriscape demonstration garden. The garden is on the corner of 10th Street and Foster Avenue in Coeur d’ Alene. Call (208) 664-0987 or (208)-772-3148 for details. People closer to Pend Oreille County may want to go to the Pend Oreille County Garden Tour and dinner on Sunday, Aug. 1. For more information, contact Carol Mack 509-447-2401, or visit the Pend Orielle County Washington State University Master Gardener website at pendoreille.wsu.edu/mg/.