In a news release from April 5, officials from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District said they are implementing a new, mandatory two-day-per-week watering schedule for residents in its service area, including Denton and Collin counties, and to incentivize residents, Upper Trinity created a "Pledge 2 Water No More than Two Days a Week" campaign.
The details
Qualified residents will receive free swag and be entered into weekly drawings for a free irrigation evaluation, valued at $125, the release stated. Additionally, in October, three grand prize winners will be randomly selected to receive both a free professional landscape consultation and a $500 gift card for plants at Rooted In, a local nursery and garden center.
The release stated the mandatory watering schedule will reduce water usage, particularly in the summer months, and help protect the water treatment infrastructure in this fast-growing region, all the while saving residents money on their water bills. Upper Trinity officials said they recommend residents water after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m. Watering plants as well as flower and garden beds by hand as needed is allowed.
Zooming in
In addition, residents are encouraged to check with their local water utility to learn more about the guidelines in place, the release stated, as some cities and utilities are providing customers with specific watering days.
“More than half the water used in North Texas during the summer is for outdoor watering, which amounts to billions of gallons applied to yards annually,” Upper Trinity Executive Director Larry Patterson said in the release. “Our board approved the change to a permanent, two-day-a-week water schedule earlier this year. Given our hotter, drier climate, this is standard practice among many utilities in Texas and the southwest.”
Also of note
To assist residents in adhering to these guidelines, Upper Trinity has resources and classes available on water-efficient landscaping and irrigation practices, the release stated, adding that, according to plant health scientists, "grass and many plants do not need to be watered more than twice a week." Watering less frequently creates a stronger root system and makes plants more resilient to heat, officials said.
For more information, visit www.waterlessyall.com.
