Stage 1 watering regulations are in effect, city says in reminder
Are you thinking before you’re sprinkling?
Just because it’s hot and dry doesn’t mean sprinkling systems should be working overtime. The City of West Kelowna reminds residents to follow Stage 1 Water Regulations, which are always in effect, unless a need for further conservation becomes necessary:
• Think odd. Oddly numbered addresses water on odd calendar days.
• Stay even. Evenly numbered addresses water on even calendar days.
• Avoid burn out. Watering between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. is prohibited. The hottest time of the day is the worst time to water your lawn anyway and helps your grass the least:
• Automatically controlled underground sprinkling systems (residential and commercial) may only sprinkle between the hours of Midnight to 6 a.m. on the days permitted by the sprinkling regulations as described above.
• Manually controlled sprinklers (residential and commercial), including those attached to outside taps, may only operate from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to midnight on the days permitted.
• Only one outlet (outside tap) may be used at one time for sprinkling, and further, it is not permissible to use an open pipe or hose for irrigating purposes. Here are other things to consider: • Your driveway doesn’t need a drink. Adjust sprinklers so that water is only being used on lawns and gardens.
• Less is more. Watering less often may actually produce more drought tolerant lawns by encouraging grass to grow stronger root systems.
• Yellow is the new green. It’s okay to let your lawn go yellow (dormant) in the summer, so long as you let it green again gradually in the fall. Don’t oversoak the lawn come September.
• Don’t take short cuts. Keep grass at longer lengths of about 6.5 centimetres to 8 (2 inches to 3 inches); shorter grass browns or burns faster during hot weather.
• Mulch! This provides more nutrients, helps with moisture retention and keeps the ground cooler.
• Stay sharp! Keep lawn mower blades sharp to prevent tearing grass, which can cause burning.
Visit www.westkelowna.ca/water for more information on water conservation and watering regulations. Residents can also find additional tips online at www.okwaterwise.ca.