Date: July 12, 2000Contact: David Warren, Water Utility Director: DWarren@wichita.gov: (316) 268-4504
Scorching temperatures and lack of rain are prompting many Wichita area residents to water their lawns and gardens heavily. During the summer, 50 percent of Wichita’s drinking water is sprayed on lawns. And when it comes to lawn watering, most people put more water on their grass than they need. Wichita water customers can have green, healthier lawns and save money on their water bills by following a few simple lawns watering tips: One inch of water a week is enough. No matter what kind of grass. And that includes rainfall. Watering while it is raining is a waste of water and money. Letting sprinklers spray in the street is expensive and wasteful. The biggest issue in the summer is not supply, but delivery. Wichita has a plentiful, affordable source of quality drinking water. Meeting the peak demand on hot summer days is the real challenge. Some neighborhoods may experience lower than usual water pressure on very hot days. Low water pressure is caused by too many people trying to use too much water all at the same time. During early morning hours for example, business and industry are gearing up, people are getting ready for work and water use is high. Lawn watering first thing in the morning adds to the demand. The water system can handle that demand much better if it’s spread out over the whole day instead of all happening in a few peak hours. The cheapest solution is for people to water their lawns later in the evening or before 6 o’clock in the morning. Reducing peak demand will lessen the stress and strain on water mains and reduce the chance of main breaks. That will save money for the entire water system and reduce disruptions in water service. The rates for Wichita water do not go up in the summer. The basic rates are the same year around. But, the rate structure has three tiers. The only people who will pay the higher rates in the upper two tiers are those who use double or triple the amount of water they normally use. People who are seeing dramatic increases in their summer water bills should evaluate their lawn watering practices. By applying one inch of water a week to their lawns, not watering while its raining and not letting sprinklers spray into the streets, many homeowners can keep their summer water bill increases to a minimum.
Scorching temperatures and lack of rain are prompting many Wichita area residents to water their lawns and gardens heavily. During the summer, 50 percent of Wichita’s drinking water is sprayed on lawns. And when it comes to lawn watering, most people put more water on their grass than they need. Wichita water customers can have green, healthier lawns and save money on their water bills by following a few simple lawns watering tips:
One inch of water a week is enough. No matter what kind of grass. And that includes rainfall.
Watering while it is raining is a waste of water and money.
Letting sprinklers spray in the street is expensive and wasteful.
The biggest issue in the summer is not supply, but delivery. Wichita has a plentiful, affordable source of quality drinking water. Meeting the peak demand on hot summer days is the real challenge. Some neighborhoods may experience lower than usual water pressure on very hot days. Low water pressure is caused by too many people trying to use too much water all at the same time. During early morning hours for example, business and industry are gearing up, people are getting ready for work and water use is high. Lawn watering first thing in the morning adds to the demand.
The water system can handle that demand much better if it’s spread out over the whole day instead of all happening in a few peak hours. The cheapest solution is for people to water their lawns later in the evening or before 6 o’clock in the morning. Reducing peak demand will lessen the stress and strain on water mains and reduce the chance of main breaks. That will save money for the entire water system and reduce disruptions in water service.
The rates for Wichita water do not go up in the summer. The basic rates are the same year around. But, the rate structure has three tiers. The only people who will pay the higher rates in the upper two tiers are those who use double or triple the amount of water they normally use. People who are seeing dramatic increases in their summer water bills should evaluate their lawn watering practices. By applying one inch of water a week to their lawns, not watering while its raining and not letting sprinklers spray into the streets, many homeowners can keep their summer water bill increases to a minimum.
Community Relations City Hall, 13th floor 455 North Main Wichita, KS 67202
Hours: 8 AM-5 PM Monday-Friday
: (316) 268-4351 : (316) 268-4519
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