City of Bel Aire
Water Conservation
Water Conservation is a key component of Bel Aire's commitment to providing high quality natural resources every time you turn on your faucet. As clean, potable water becomes an increasingly scarce natural resource, taking steps to conserve those resources now can insure the availability of water for generations to come.
Each year, the City's Water Resource Board updates the Municipal Water Conservation Program. You can read the 2008 Water Conservation Plan by clicking on the link below. The other links listed below are excellent sources of information on conservation practices.
Links
• 2008 Water Conservation Plan
• Renewable Energy Policy Project
• 2009 EPA Water Quality Video Contest
Indoor Water Saving Tips
- Replace old water fixtures with the newer, low-flow fixtures, including toilets, showerheads and dripping faucets
- Insulate hot water pipes, conserving both water and gas/electric by heating less water
- Repair leaky faucets immediately; even a small leak can result in hundreds of gallons of water loss
- Select High-Efficiency washers and other Energy Star rated appliances
- Locate your master water shut-off valve for quick access in emergency situations
- Always wash full loads in the clothes washer and automatic dishwashers
- Test your toilets for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait a few minutes; if there is coloring in the bowl, you have a leak in the toilet
- Turn off running water when you are brushing your teeth, shaving or doing other hygiene activities
- Install faucet aerators on all of your faucets
- Limit showers to 10 minutes
Outdoor Water Saving Tips
- Do not water when it's windy; wind increases the evaporation rate and decrease the effectiveness of watering
Adjust sprinklers to avoid over-spray or watering the street
Inspect the sprinkler system after each mowing for damaged or misaligned sprinkler heads
If you plan to reseed or sod, choose a warm-season grass such as Bermuda or Zoysia; warm-season grasses require less water than Fescue
- Adjust the cutting height on your mower; a taller grass shades the ground and root system, which helps hold moisture
- Plant during the spring and fall, when the water needs are less
- Avoid placing sod in areas that are hard to water without irrigation and on slopes; these areas will need to be hand-watered
- Clean your driveway and sidewalks with a broom instead of a water hose
- Aerate your lawn when needed to improve drainage
- To prevent watering while it's raining, install a rain shut-off device on your sprinkler system
- Collect water from downspouts in rain barrels to be used in your garden and on plants
Direct sump-pump lines and downspouts towards plants and shrubs
When possible, irrigate the roots of trees, shrubs and flowers with drip emitters
- To reduce the run-off, water more often with a shorter runtime.
- Remember, no matter how much the street is watered, it will not grow!
Be Aware Of Stormwater Pollution!
Stormwater runoff is generated when precipitation flows over land or impervious surfaces and is not absorbed into the ground.
Stormwater can pick up chemicals, dirt, litter and many other pollutants as it flows into the stormwater system or directly into neighborhood ponds or streams.
Stormwater is discharged into untreated bodies of water, the same water that's used for drinking, swimming and fishing.
Help Control Stormwater Runoff
- Don't overwater your lawn. Consider a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler.
- When use of fertilizers and pesticides are necessary, use the recommended amounts.
- Pet waste can be a major source of bacteria that wash into the drainage system and eventually into the local waters. Clean up after your pets. Flushing the pet waste is the best method to dispose of it.
- Sweep up yard debris rather than hosing down the areas. Compost your yard waste and grass clippings.
- Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on the lawn or other unpaved surface.
Water's Fury
Check out this video from the National Weather Service and the Weather Channel.
7651 E Central Park Ave