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You are here: Home / Archives for saws

saws

Saving Water as the Summer Heats Up

June 25, 2016 by khproperties Leave a Comment

Saving Water - Blue Hole

Saving water is probably the last thing on your mind after all the rain we had in May and early June, but water conservation should always be on your mind here in San Antonio (and across South Texas). As the summer months heat up and our water use increases, it’s easy to forget the drought conditions we’ve dealt with the past few years and how they impact everything around us. We turned to SAWS for some helpful tips on how to keep your water usage low and help conserve one of our most precious resources. While the aquifer is running at high capacity, we tend to forget just how quickly that water gets used up and we find ourselves facing water restrictions once again.

Saving Water in the Home

There are many simple things you can do to save water in your home. Some of them may seem difficult at first, but if you make them a regular habit, you’ll soon find yourself wondering why you never did them in the first place.

  • Take shorter showers and always choose a shower over a bath. If you do take a bath, use 1-2 inches less water than you would normally. Tiny changes like this can have a huge impact.
  • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. You’re not using that water and it’s just heading straight down the drain.
  • Same thing with washing your hands or shaving. If you’re not actively using the water coming from the tap, it’s just being wasted.
  • Check your toilet for leaks. Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and look to see if the color appears in the bowl. If you see the colored water, you may have a slow leak at the flapper. While it may seem like just a small leak, that’s a 24 hour a day water loss that adds up.
  • Install dual flush toilets, faucet aerators, and low flow shower heads. Most of these devices won’t change the way you feel the water much and can save a lot over time.
  • Don’t use hot water when cold water will do. Water heaters are terribly inefficient systems and by using hot water, you’re not only using more water than necessary, but also consuming more energy than needed.

Saving Water Outside the Home

We all love lush landscaping and a green perfect lawn. It’s part of the American dream of homeownership. Maintaining those plants and your lawn can use a lot of water, but with a little forward thinking you can have a beautiful yard and save water. People can check Kansas City hot water heater installation here, if they need the best water heaters.

  • Water only when needed. Sure, this sounds pretty basic, but many people overwater, which is not just bad for saving water, but can actually bad for your lawn. Damp can attract insects that feed on your lawn as well as encourage mold and other destructive plant life. Learn what kind of grass you have and understand its needs and requirements.
  • Use timers and rain shut off devices for your sprinklers. Check your systems often to make sure they are watering at the correct times and cycles. Adjust the times as the seasons and daylight hours change.
  • Avoid sprinklers that spray fine mist – this can lead to quicker evaporation.
  • Use drip irrigation systems to water plants and landscaping. If you use soaker hoses or other drip systems, turn them so that the holes face downward – this helps prevent evaporation from being directly exposed to the air and sun.
  • Water your lawn in the early hours. As the day heats up, water evaporates quicker so you use more for the same effect. Avoid watering late at night as the water that sits on the grass in the cooler hours can lead to several lawn diseases and encourage mold growth.
  • Consider xeriscpaing. Designing your landscaping for water conservation doesn’t have to mean you just plant a lot of cacti. There are many plants native to our region that are drought tolerant and beautiful as well. Consider eliminating some of the grassy lawn area and turning it into gardens of hardy plants that will provide a interesting look to your home as well as assist you in saving water. Most xeriscaping also requires less maintenance, so you’ll save hours of time as well – put those hours to good use and enjoy your home instead of slaving away on the weekend to maintain the perfectly manicured lawn.
  • Install rain water catchment systems and use “grey” water to maintain your lawn. Once something reserved for guys like Ed Begley, Jr., rain water catchment systems have become increasing popular and we’ve even caught a few buyers getting excited over buying a home with an existing system. Make the best use of the water that falls from the sky and do you part in conserving what we draw from the ground.

You can learn a lot more about water conservation as it relates to our city from the conservation section at the SAWS website, including updated information about watering restrictions, more ideas to conserve water, and various programs and rebates for saving water.

image courtesy of gunaxi

Filed Under: Homeowner Tips Tagged With: saws, water restrictions, water conservation

San Antonio, SAWS, and Water Restrictions

April 4, 2013 by khproperties 2 Comments

Sprinklers

San Antonio is dry. We need more water. Lots of it. With our continued drought conditions, this summer could be a long one when it comes to watching our yards dry up. That’s why, it is better to buy Smart WIFI Sprinkler Controller Installation in Oakland County MI which is the perfect solution to water problems in summer.

The Edwards Aquifer is our benchmark for all water restrictions and knowing how SAWS determines which stage we’re in and what that means to you can at least help you know when to water and how to help conserve the water we do have. There have been a few changes made to the SAWS restrictions for 2013.

Year Round Water Restrictions

  • Residential fountains, both indoor and outdoor are allowed.
  • Sprinklers are permitted any day of the week – before 10AM or after 8PM
  • Watering with a hose and drip irrigation is allowed any time of day.
  • Washing of parking lots, driveways, streets, or sidewalks is allowed, but you must not allow water to runoff.
  • Waste water (runoff) is not allowed at all times.

Stage 1 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 660 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 1 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 660 foot mark.

  • Residential fountains, both indoor and outdoor are allowed.
  • Watering with a hose, soaker hose, or sprinkler is allowed once a week before 10AM or after 8PM on your designated watering day.
  • Overnight watering is not allowed.
  • Waste water (runoff) is not allowed at all times.
  • All pools must have a minimum of 25% of their surface covered with evaporation screens or inflatable pool toys/decorations.
  • Washing of parking lots, driveways, streets, or sidewalks is not allowed.
  • You may wash your car once per week on Saturday or Sunday, but must not waste water. You may use SAWS-certified car washes any day of the week.

Stage 2 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 650 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 2 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 650 foot mark.

  • All Stage 1 Water Restrictions apply.
  • Watering with irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed once a week from 7-11AM and 7-11PM on your designated watering day.
  • You can water with drip irrigation systems or a 5 gallon bucket between 7-11AM and 7-11PM.
  • Watering with a hose is allowed during any time on any day.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 640 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 3 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 640 foot mark.

  • All Stage 1 and Stage 2 Water Restrictions apply.
  • Watering with irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed is allowed every other week from 7-11AM and 7-11PM on your designated watering day.
  • Local media and online sources will announce weeks when no watering is allowed.
  • You can water with drip irrigation systems every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7-11AM and 7-11PM.
  • Watering with a hose is allowed during any time on any day.

Stage 4 Water Restrictions

When they supply of water from the Edwards Aquifer is determined to be inadequate to meet city wide usage, Stage 4 Water Restrictions may be declared by the City Manager after a 30 day monitoring period following Stage 3 Water Restrictions.

  • All Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 Water Restrictions apply.
  • SAWS will chard a “drought surcharge” on all accounts for water used or assumed to be used for watering and irrigation. This surcharge remains in effect for a complete billing cycle and will remain if the Stage 4 Water Restrictions have not been lifted by the beginning of the next billing cycle.
  • City Council may also establish additional restrictions.
  • Stage 4 Water Restrictions remain in effect until there is an announcement in the newspaper of its cancellation.

Note: The items in this post cover residential use only, for information about commercial use of water during the various stages of water restrictions, please visit the SAWS Drought Restriction page.

image courtesy of QuietDanst

Filed Under: Local Laws Tagged With: saws, water restrictions, edwards aquifer

Kick the Can: Free Toilets

September 20, 2011 by khproperties Leave a Comment

Toilets in the bush.

Did you know that a leaking toilet can cost you money? You need not get high quality cold water bidets or expensive accessories, but make sure that you do not waste water. With hundreds of gallons of water wasted each year, this can equate to a 10-12% increase in your water bill from commodes alone.

Well we have a solution for you. San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has implemented a program to help you get rid of your broken, inefficient, ugly, or water-wasting toilets. And the best part? It’s FREE!!!

Free water saving toilets from SAWS.

If your home was built prior to 1992 and you are still sitting on outdated, water-guzzling equipment, you can apply for up to two FREE, water-efficient toilets from SAWS. Simply contact their office at (210) 204-SAWS, or visit the SAWS website to apply for the “Kick the Can” program.

If you qualify, you will be issued a voucher that can be taken to one of many major hardware stores and exchanged for their high-quality, water saving toilets. They can even arrange for someone to install the systems (for a cost) if you don’t want to attempt installation yourself.

Even if you are renting a property, you can still reap the benefits. Simply have your landlord sign a consent form, and you can be well on your way to savings.

Full details of the program can be found here: SAWS “Kick the Can” program.

image courtesy of Tonyfoster

Filed Under: Homeowner Tips Tagged With: toilet, free, rebate, san antonio water system, saws, kick the can, water saving

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