City of Spokane continues to eye water conservation programs

As the temperature rises, so does water consumption. According to the Spokane Aquifer Joint Board, a collective of 22 water purveyors, watering lawns, washing cars, and hosing down driveways causes the average Spokane family to triple its usage during summers, a statistic the city hopes can change through financial incentives and education. As of January 2011, the more water a household uses, the more it pays per unit. Under Spokane’s new rate structure, a consumer using 3,000 gallons or less pays 20 cents per unit, whereas a consumer using over 33,600 gallons pays $1.85 per unit. To assist and encourage people to meet the city’s conservation goals – to reduce consumption 10 percent by 2011 and 20 percent by 2017- the city is offering a $375 credit for installing sprinkler components that measure moisture in the air and soil and adjust watering schedules accordingly. The technology costs between $225 and $375, depending on the number of watering zones being covered. The city is accepting applications until Dec. 1, 2011, or until the limited funding runs out, whichever is sooner. As of late May, 39 rebates have been distributed totaling $10,200, leaving $89,000 available. If sprinkler system renovations are not feasible for your particular situation, or the incentive funding runs out, other ways to reduce outdoor water consumption and save money include: -Stop over-watering. According to the Spokane Aquifer Joint Board, most lawns only need 1 inch of water a week, including rainfall. -Water according to soil type. The North side and Spokane Valley have sandy soil that requires frequent but not extremely deep watering. The South side can contain loamy soil and some clay, and benefits from deep, less frequent watering. -Water early in the morning or evening to prevent water loss through evaporation. During the warmer mid-day (noon-6 p.m.) experts estimate that 50 percent of water evaporates, never reaching roots. -Set sprinklers to deliver large drops of water rather than a finer spray - the latter evaporates quickly. -Setting the spray closer to the ground will reduce loss to evaporation and wind. -Adjust sprinkler settings according to temperature and rainfall – don’t just “set it and forget it.” -Use the “interactive sprinkler calculator” at www.spokanewater.org to customize an irrigation schedule based on soil conditions, plant type, and sprinkler type. -Keep lawn height at 2.5 to 3 inches – this protects roots from heat stress and moisture loss. -Consider replacing grass with shrubs, ground cover, or trees, which typically need less water. The Washington State University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture has a list of “hardy plants for waterwise landscapes,” on its web site http://public.wsu.edu/~lohr/wcl/ . -Cluster plants according to water and sun needs so that nothing gets over or under-watered. -An obvious but often ignored tip is to not water sidewalks, driveways or streets. Trade the hose for a broom if tidying the yard is your goal. While Spokane is attempting to reduce consumption through voluntary reductions, some municipalities, especially in the Seattle area, have imposed mandatory restrictions on outdoor water consumption, generally during droughts. Common limits are frequency, duration, and time of day of watering, but some cities have enacted additional bans on using hoses to wash paved areas, limits on car washing and filling swimming pools, and restrictions on planting and watering new sod. In summer 2002, the Denver metro area experienced record droughts, sparking emergency water restrictions. After the emergency subsided, researchers studied the effectiveness of such measures and found that while both mandatory and voluntary restrictions can be effective in reducing water use, mandatory restrictions are more so, and the more stringent and aggressive the limits, the greater the savings. The authors of the study in the Journal of American Water Resources Association considered whether such restrictions could aid larger conservation goals, as opposed to just emergency relief. They concluded that while moderate, mandatory restrictions could be effective and sustainable for the long-term, restrictions might be difficult to impose during non-emergencies (when the public is not unified by feelings of cooperation/goodwill). Because of the high political costs that accompany mandatory restrictions, voluntary restrictions, while less effective, may be more practical for municipalities. Currently, Spokane is hoping financial incentives and education will encourage consumption. While we are not anticipating an emergency water shortage, more than 500,000 people here rely on a single source for clean water - the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized our geographic disadvantage and designated this resource as a “sole source” aquifer, areas that have few or no alternative sources for groundwater. The EPA considers our situation precarious enough to require special protections against contamination. Water users may consider some prudence in daily use.