How to Use Water More Efficiently to Maintain a Beautiful Lawn

How often should you water your lawn?

UTRWD now has a permanent, mandatory two-day-per-week watering schedule in place to protect water supplies and infrastructure. Research by Texas A&M has shown that watering two days or less weekly produces a healthier and more resilient lawn. As water goes deeper into the soil, the grass learns to grow deeper roots. If people water more than two days weekly, the grass doesn’t have to grow deep roots since the top of the soil stays wet, but this leaves grass vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Several other cities in the Metroplex already limit outdoor watering to two days per week, and it is a common practice in other parts of the state. UTRWD is encouraging residents to ‘Pledge 2 Water Less’ at WaterLessYall.com. Those who pledge will receive a free swag bag and a chance to win additional prizes.

How does limiting watering days help water infrastructure?

By limiting the number of days residents and businesses irrigate, water usage can be spread out and we can avoid large spikes in water usage that occur when folks water too frequently. With the continued growth and more frequent droughts, increased water usage during the summer can place undue burdens on existing infrastructure. The water treatment plant, the pipes, and the pumps are limited to how much can be treated and delivered to homes and businesses. If everyone irrigates more efficiently, we can protect our drinking water infrastructure and avoid severe restrictions.

How long do homeowners need to water their lawns for?

It depends on the weather. If it just rained, you can wait several days. If it’s cooler outside, you don’t need as much. It depends on the season as well. UTRWD’s free website, WaterMyYard.org, is where residents can sign up and create a profile. They tell the service what type of sprinklers they have (regular spray heads, rotors, multi-stream, or drip). Then, based on recent weather data, the service sends an email or text to residents stating how many minutes to run sprinklers that week. We tell people to take that recommendation, half it, and there’s how long they need to water on their two days.

What can homeowners do with their landscaping to help save or capture water?

Residents should use two to four inches of hardwood or cedar mulch in flowerbeds or gardens to lock in moisture and prevent erosion. On lawns, residents should set mowers at the highest setting. Taller grass captures more water and leads to deeper root growth, which produces better absorption of rainwater into the soil. Residents are encouraged to reduce or stop using fertilizers. Studies also show the average homeowner applies too much fertilizer, which can damage lawns and lead to water pollution as excess fertilizer drains off. Instead, Upper Trinity recommends using organic fertilizers
or compost.

What does UTRWD do?

UTRWD provides drinking water and wastewater treatment services to 29 cities and utilities in Denton and Collin counties, serving approximately 400,000 people. UTRWD is also responsible for ensuring these cities and utilities have an adequate water supply for the next 50 years. UTRWD works closely with those communities and with other regional partners to identify water needs and solutions to meet those needs which are included in the State Water Plan every five years.