Know the Water Rise Rules

It’s no secret that water is a precious resource and Colorado Springs Utilities continues to establish guidelines to protect our water supply while also educating its customers.

There are six key rules everyone must follow:

1. Water up to three days a week. You choose the days.
2. In warmer weather (from May 1-Oct. 15), run sprinklers before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation.
3. Do not let water pool on hard surfaces or flow down gutters.
4. Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.
5. Use a shut-off nozzle when washing anything with a hose.
6. Clean hard surfaces (such as driveways, sidewalks and patios) with water only if there is a public health or safety concern.

Customers who need to establish new grass or plants with sprinklers can apply for an establishment permit. And watering is allowed any time with a drip irrigation system, handheld hose with a shutoff nozzle or other handheld watering container.

According to Colorado Springs Utilities, utilizing the “cycle and soak” method will keep your lawn healthy even when watering only three days per week because watering time is broken into smaller cycles allowing the water to soak in. Trees and shrubs should be handled differently depending on where they are planted.

CYCLE AND SOAK:

1. Divide the zone’s watering time into two or three cycles.
2. Water the first cycle and wait one hour.
3. Water the second cycle and wait one hour before running a third cycle if necessary.
4. Don’t water for short periods in both the morning and the evening. The water doesn’t soak deeply into the soil, leading to shallow roots and unhealthy grass.

TREE AND SHRUB WATERING:

1. Apply water several feet outside the dripline with a watering can or soft spray wand attached to a hose or a soaker hose.
2. Recently transplanted trees and shrubs need more frequent watering.
3. Trees and shrubs planted in lawn do not need to be watered separately from grass if grass is receiving regular irrigation.
4. Consider planting trees and shrubs that require less supplemental water.

CSU also recommends checking your sprinkler system monthly to ensure proper operation, adding rain sensors to prevent unnecessary watering, and replacing any fixed spray nozzles with multi-stream heads for better coverage.