Scotts Valley Water District
 
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Outdoor Conservation



:: NEW LANDSCAPE REBATES!!!
Starting December 1, 2008 the Scotts Valley Water District will be offering rebates for lawn replacement, intallation of a weather based irrigation control and for installation of a rain catchment system.

:: Water-Smart Gardening
Does your water bill skyrocket during the summer? Do you spend hundreds of gallons a day watering your lawn? Need ideas on what to do? View the gardens of the water-smart garden contest winners to get ideas for saving water in your garden.

:: Smart Irrigation
Fine tune your irrigation system to save money and get better results with these smart irrigation tips.


:: Artifical Turf
Tired of spending too much energy and money maintaining your lawn? You may want to consider artificial turf!


:: Free Water Wise House Calls

Do you want to know how to save money on your water bill by using less water? Sign up for a free water wise house call

 

:: Free Automatic Shut-Off Hose Nozzles
Stop by the district office at 2 Civic Center Drive to pick up a free automatic shut-off hose nozzle.

 

:: Watering Schedule 
Most of the soil in Scotts Valley contains a large amount of sand. Sandy soil does not hold moisture well. For this type of soil we recommend frequent but short watering cycles. For example, a lawn could be watered every day for 5 minutes or four days per week for 9 minutes. Low water using plants require half that much water or less.  Use our lawn watering guide to create a schedule for your home.


:: Quick and Easy Tips

 Note: If you have an older irrigation system, over 50% and even more than 75% of the water can be lost to leaks.

 

• Fix irrigation system leaks (check for excess water in gutters or mud puddles).

• Don't overwater.  Water when the grass or plants show signs of needing it.

• Check the weather forecasts so you don't water the lawn when it's going to rain.

• Avoid watering on windy days.

• Water in the cool of the day to avoid excess evaportation (early or late).

• Set a timer when using sprinklers (you can lose over 600 gallons in a few hours).

• When washing the car, use a bucket for soapy water and a hose only for rinsing.

• Use a rake and broom to clean up sidewalks, not the hose.

 

 :: Rainwater Harvesting

Learn more about local rainwater harvesting by visiting:
http://www.earthcraftdesign.com/rainwater_harvesting.html
http://www.rainsourcewater.com

  

:: Looking for a gardener?

 Visit the Green Gardener website to find a green gardener in your area.

 

:: Visit www.h2ouse.org to:

• Find out how much water you can save outside your home

• Calculate you and your family's water usage and create a water budget

• Search for plants that don't require much water and view the helpful plant list in the Garden Guide