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Jerrel GeislerJerrel Geisler [email protected]@houstontx.gov
Dept. of Public Works & EngineeringDept. of Public Works & Engineering
Public Utilities Public Utilities Division Division -- Drinking Drinking Water Operations Water Operations BranchBranch
DDROUGHTROUGHT CCONTINGENCIESONTINGENCIES:: WaterWater--Saving “Saving “ScapesScapes”,”,
Water ConservationWater Conservation & Maintenance Issues& Maintenance Issues
DDROUGHTROUGHT CCONTINGENCIESONTINGENCIES:: WaterWater--Saving “Saving “ScapesScapes”,”,
Water ConservationWater Conservation & Maintenance Issues& Maintenance Issues
Jerrel Geisler Jerrel Geisler –– WaterWorks Education CenterWaterWorks Education Center
Whatever style or term you use, Whatever style or term you use,
ensure that it ensure that it SAVES WATERSAVES WATER
in times of little or no rainin times of little or no rain
Why should we save water and Why should we save water and promote conservation ?promote conservation ?
Regional mandate to pump less groundwater to slow Regional mandate to pump less groundwater to slow subsidencesubsidence
Delay infrastructure expenditures, rate hikesDelay infrastructure expenditures, rate hikes
It’s It’s the right thing to the right thing to dodo
Right now it’s the required thing to doRight now it’s the required thing to do
Population GrowthPopulation Growth
5 million Texans in 5 million Texans in 19501950
20 million Texans 20 million Texans TodayToday
40 million Texans projected by 40 million Texans projected by 20502050
All sharing the same All sharing the same
water water resourcesresources
Drought? What Drought!Drought? What Drought!
TexasTexas Drought MonitorDrought Monitor
Houston’s Houston’s rainfall:rainfall: generally 40 generally 40 -- 60 inches60 inches
How much soaks into the ground How much soaks into the ground ??
How How much runs off of paved surfaces ?much runs off of paved surfaces ?
42.747.0
53.0
67.2
57.7
39.3
59.5
71.2
10.95
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Total Rain
2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
2005 2004 --- 2001
2001*
2007*
2008*
2005*
2004*
Lake Houston at Lake Houston at DeussenDeussen Park Park -- 20092009 August 2011August 2011
Drought indicatorsDrought indicators
Drought indicators
Atascosita subdivision – August 2011
Boat dock
Drought indicators
City of Houston water quality inspection
boat– August 2011
Normal water level
Drought indicators
Water restrictionsWater restrictions
Stage 1Stage 1 All measures are voluntaryAll measures are voluntary
Stage 2Stage 2 Limit outdoor irrigationLimit outdoor irrigation
Between 8 p.m. Between 8 p.m. –– 10 a.m.10 a.m.
No more than 2No more than 2--days per weekdays per week
Sunday & Thursday Sunday & Thursday –– even street addresseven street address
Saturday & Wednesday Saturday & Wednesday –– odd street addressodd street address
Fix all leaks within 72 hoursFix all leaks within 72 hours
Stage 3 & 4Stage 3 & 4 All above restrictions and additional aesthetic All above restrictions and additional aesthetic
water use restrictedwater use restricted Ornamental use, fountains, water gardens, etc.Ornamental use, fountains, water gardens, etc.
Water restrictionsWater restrictions FAQ’sFAQ’s
Water wellsWater wells
Private water wells are not regulated but proof of ownership Private water wells are not regulated but proof of ownership
may be requiredmay be required
HOA’s, Gated communities, master metersHOA’s, Gated communities, master meters
Address will determine watering scheduleAddress will determine watering schedule
Irrigation trucksIrrigation trucks
Not directly covered but encouraged to follow schedule and Not directly covered but encouraged to follow schedule and
water wise practiceswater wise practices
Hand wateringHand watering
Buckets, watering cans, Buckets, watering cans, HANDHAND--HELDHELD hoses can be used at hoses can be used at
anytime anytime –– no unsupervised running water no unsupervised running water
Soaker hoses and drip irrigationSoaker hoses and drip irrigation
On scheduled daysOn scheduled days
Landscape business Landscape business –– can maintain primary business practicecan maintain primary business practice
New plantings New plantings –– not encouraged, but can be hand watered to not encouraged, but can be hand watered to
establishestablish
Ready to plant or making landscaping changes?Ready to plant or making landscaping changes? Simplify your life…Simplify your life…
Plan for your site, not for your plantsPlan for your site, not for your plants
Buy plants lastBuy plants last
Zone plants according to water Zone plants according to water needsneeds
Follow the 7 landscape principals Follow the 7 landscape principals
Seek advice from professionalsSeek advice from professionals
Natives thrive Natives thrive ---- NaturallyNaturally
Water deeply, less often for strong root systemsWater deeply, less often for strong root systems
Insulate plants Insulate plants with mulchwith mulch, spread compost on turf, spread compost on turf
Turf vs. PlantsTurf vs. Plants
TurfTurf
How much turf is too much?How much turf is too much?
25,000,000 acres (U.S.)25,000,000 acres (U.S.) $6,000,000,000 annually to maintain$6,000,000,000 annually to maintain
Lawns: Good for the environment!?Lawns: Good for the environment!? ••They do release oxygenThey do release oxygen ••Trap dirt, dust, polluting gassesTrap dirt, dust, polluting gasses ••Filter water, help with erosion and runoffFilter water, help with erosion and runoff
••Lawns & DroughtLawns & Drought ••Learn to maintain before/during droughtLearn to maintain before/during drought ••Lawns are able to survive without water if properly Lawns are able to survive without water if properly maintainedmaintained
is a color too!is a color too!
••Lawn maintenanceLawn maintenance ••WateringWatering ••MowingMowing ••Chemicals?Chemicals?
WateringWatering ••Infrequent but deep watering Infrequent but deep watering –– can help withstand droughtcan help withstand drought
••Establish deep vigorous rootsEstablish deep vigorous roots ••Deep roots can withstand drought and certain disease Deep roots can withstand drought and certain disease problemsproblems
••Frequent and shallow watering Frequent and shallow watering –– will not prepare lawn for will not prepare lawn for droughtdrought
••Promote diseasePromote disease ••Encourage weed germinationEncourage weed germination ••Foster shallow rootsFoster shallow roots
••Normal lawnNormal lawn
••OneOne--inch of water perinch of water per weekweek
••Drought tolerant grassDrought tolerant grass
••¼ to ¾ per week¼ to ¾ per week
••Combine tasksCombine tasks
WateringWatering
••How to waterHow to water
••Mimic nature by watering infrequentlyMimic nature by watering infrequently
••Always use timer, adjusting for length and frequencyAlways use timer, adjusting for length and frequency
••Conventional sprinklers can be wasteful if not timed and used Conventional sprinklers can be wasteful if not timed and used properlyproperly
••Automatic sprinklers are usually adjust to minimize watering Automatic sprinklers are usually adjust to minimize watering sidewalks or other nonsidewalks or other non--vegetative areasvegetative areas
••Keep maintainedKeep maintained
••Audit your watering systemAudit your watering system
••Drought tolerant grasses:Drought tolerant grasses:
••BuffaloBuffalo grassgrass
••FescuesFescues
••ZoysiaZoysia
MOWINGMOWING
••Grass adjusts better to frequent Grass adjusts better to frequent
mowingmowing
••OnceOnce or twice a week when rain is or twice a week when rain is
abundantabundant
••Less often in winter and dry seasonLess often in winter and dry season
••Collect clippings only during peak Collect clippings only during peak
growing in spring and fallgrowing in spring and fall
••Uncut grass is not “natural”Uncut grass is not “natural”
••Proper mowingProper mowing
••Be sure mower is sharpBe sure mower is sharp
••Sharp cut leaf blades improve recovery, decrease water loss, Sharp cut leaf blades improve recovery, decrease water loss, increase photosynthesisincrease photosynthesis
••Dull cut leaves have poor aesthetics, heal slowly, greater water lossDull cut leaves have poor aesthetics, heal slowly, greater water loss
••Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade –– leave at 2 ½ to 3 inchesleave at 2 ½ to 3 inches
••Longer grass takes in more sunlight, is less stressed, shades the soil Longer grass takes in more sunlight, is less stressed, shades the soil and can block weedsand can block weeds
MOWINGMOWING
••Low mowing Low mowing
promotes weed promotes weed
growthgrowth
••Allows sunlight to Allows sunlight to
reach soil, heat the reach soil, heat the
soil and germinate soil and germinate
weed seedsweed seeds
FERTILIZER & CHEMICALSFERTILIZER & CHEMICALS
••Try organicsTry organics
••Use sparingly if at allUse sparingly if at all
••When rain returns, chemicals can wash into water systemWhen rain returns, chemicals can wash into water system
••Do not use during severe drought situations Do not use during severe drought situations –– can harm can harm adjacent plants and treesadjacent plants and trees
June 2011June 2011 August 2011August 2011
June 2011June 2011 August 2011August 2011
Lots of plants are drought tolerant or resistantLots of plants are drought tolerant or resistant
None are droughtNone are drought--PROOFPROOF
PlantsPlants PlantsPlants
Water Friendly PlantsWater Friendly Plants Choose Choose Native or Adapted PlantsNative or Adapted Plants
Hardy, disease resistantHardy, disease resistant
Attract butterflies, beneficial Attract butterflies, beneficial insects, other wildlifeinsects, other wildlife
Easier to grow, easier to maintainEasier to grow, easier to maintain
Established plants need Established plants need very littlevery little irrigation irrigation
EnvironmentallyEnvironmentally--friendlyfriendly
fewer fewer chemicals, less chemical runoff, chemicals, less chemical runoff, -- reduces pollution in streams, baysreduces pollution in streams, bays
Native Plants are Survivors!
Zone plants by water needs
HIGHEST water use plants
MODERATE ZONE Perennials, drought-tolerant flowers/ shrubs
LOWEST water usage Watered by Rainwater
Groundcover mulch, native grasses
Minimize permanent impervious surfacesMinimize permanent impervious surfaces Include some pervious surfacesInclude some pervious surfaces
ExamplesExamples
Appropriate Plant SelectionAppropriate Plant Selection
OtherOther --WISEWISE PrinciplesPrinciples
MulchingMulching Reduces weedsReduces weeds Retains moistureRetains moisture Insulates Insulates against heat/cold. against heat/cold. Create Create compost with green/brown discards compost with green/brown discards
and food scrapsand food scraps.. Minimal grass left in turf adds to mulchMinimal grass left in turf adds to mulch
OtherOther --WISEWISE PrinciplesPrinciples
IIRRIGATIONRRIGATION
TypesTypes SprinklerSprinkler
HoseHose--endend Permanent undergroundPermanent underground
DripDrip
ZonesZones Regular Watering zoneRegular Watering zone
Once per week or soOnce per week or so
Occasional watering zoneOccasional watering zone Once = two to three weeks (established) in absence of rainOnce = two to three weeks (established) in absence of rain
Natural Watering/Rainfall zoneNatural Watering/Rainfall zone Only require natural rainfall once establishedOnly require natural rainfall once established
OtherOther --WISEWISE PrinciplesPrinciples IIRRIGATIONRRIGATION
TypesTypes SprinklerSprinkler
Pro Pro –– large spread for turf areaslarge spread for turf areas HoseHose--endend
Pro Pro –– InexpensiveInexpensive Con Con –– Less efficient, inconvenient, Less efficient, inconvenient,
wastes water if not managedwastes water if not managed Permanent undergroundPermanent underground
Pro Pro –– EfficientEfficient Con Con –– Costly, wastes water if not Costly, wastes water if not
maintainedmaintained
DripDrip Pro Pro –– Pointed watering at root or Pointed watering at root or
selected spot, good for plants, selected spot, good for plants, shrubs, trees, efficient when shrubs, trees, efficient when managed and maintainedmanaged and maintained
Con Con –– requires management, not requires management, not efficient for turfefficient for turf
OtherOther --WISEWISE PrinciplesPrinciples IIRRIGATIONRRIGATION
ZonesZones Regular Watering zoneRegular Watering zone
Turf and annual flowersTurf and annual flowers
Occasional watering zoneOccasional watering zone Perennial flowers and tender woody shrubs and vinesPerennial flowers and tender woody shrubs and vines
Natural Watering/Rainfall zoneNatural Watering/Rainfall zone Tough woody shrubs, vines and all treesTough woody shrubs, vines and all trees
Type of sprinkler used will also vary with zoneType of sprinkler used will also vary with zone
DrawbacksDrawbacks SprinklersSprinklers
Flowers, leaves and soil get wetFlowers, leaves and soil get wet Wet leaves and flowers can lead to decay if not allowed to evaporateWet leaves and flowers can lead to decay if not allowed to evaporate
Windy daysWindy days Even at 5 mph., water is distributed unevenly leading to wasteEven at 5 mph., water is distributed unevenly leading to waste
Fire PreventionFire Prevention oo A defensible buffer of 30A defensible buffer of 30--100 feet advised, around house100 feet advised, around house
oo Old established trees are better than young ones, more the betterOld established trees are better than young ones, more the better
oo Keep brush at a minimum near house or beneath treesKeep brush at a minimum near house or beneath trees
oo Low growing juniper and resinous trees are not desirableLow growing juniper and resinous trees are not desirable
oo Plants requiring a lot of water and holding water are better around Plants requiring a lot of water and holding water are better around edge of houseedge of house
oo Prune dead branches, shrubs, plants and brush from around housePrune dead branches, shrubs, plants and brush from around house
oo Trim brush around windowsTrim brush around windows
oo Do not store firewood, flammables, building materials, mulch piles, Do not store firewood, flammables, building materials, mulch piles, etc. around edge of houseetc. around edge of house
oo Rake dead leaves and pine needles from on and around houseRake dead leaves and pine needles from on and around house
Questions?Questions?
Jerrel GeislerJerrel Geisler [email protected]@houstontx.gov
832832--395395--37803780
