• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Accessibility Statement

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on YouTubeRSS Feed

Kimberly Howell Properties

San Antonio Real Estate

office@kimberlyhowell.com
(210) 493-6888
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Agents
  • Buyers
    • Neighborhoods
    • Relocation Information
  • Sellers
  • Listings
    • Available Rentals
    • Homes for Sale
    • McNair Custom Homes
    • Open Houses
  • Contact
  • Rental SearchHomes for Rent
  • REALTORS®Find an Agent
  • McNair Custom HomesNew Construction
  • Property SearchHomes for Sale
You are here: Home / Archives for water restrictions

water restrictions

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: edwards aquifer, saws, water restrictions

Primary Sidebar

First Time Homebuyers

Financial Fundamentals for First Time Homebuyers

Are you prepping to buy your first home? If so, one of the steps you should take early on is making sure you’re financially ready for your purchase. Here are just a few of the financial fundamentals you’ll need … [Read More...] about Financial Fundamentals for First Time Homebuyers

Recessions

What Past Recessions Tell Us About the Housing Market

It doesn’t matter if you’re someone who closely follows the economy or not, chances are you’ve heard whispers of an upcoming recession. Economic conditions are determined by a broad range of factors, so rather … [Read More...] about What Past Recessions Tell Us About the Housing Market

McNair Custom Homes Video

Recently, we had the pleasure of working with McNair Custom Homes and The IMG Studio to put together a video about McNair Custom Homes and their building philosophy. We love the way it turned out. We hope you … [Read More...] about McNair Custom Homes Video

Confused About The Housing Market?

Confused About The Housing Market? Lean On Your Realtor

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you probably want to know what’s really happening with home prices, mortgage rates, housing supply, and more. That’s not an easy task considering how … [Read More...] about Confused About The Housing Market? Lean On Your Realtor

Homeownership Is An Investment In Your Future

Homeownership: An Investment In Your Future

There are many people thinking about buying a home, but with everything affecting the economy, some are wondering if it’s a smart decision to buy now or if it makes more sense to wait it out. As Bob Broeksmit, … [Read More...] about Homeownership: An Investment In Your Future

Search Our Site

Real Estate Topics

  • Buying a Home
  • Homeowner Tips
  • KHP News
  • Local Events
  • Local Laws
  • Miscellaneous
  • Mortgages and Financing
  • Open Houses
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate Market
  • Renters and Landlords
  • San Antonio Places
  • Sell Your Home
  • Technology
Our real estate agents can help you with properties anywhere in Texas. If you need assistance finding agents in other parts of the country, please contact us.

Search Homes

Explore Cities

  • Alamo Heights 34 Listings
  • Bandera 384 Listings
  • Blanco 192 Listings
  • Boerne 695 Listings
  • Bulverde 428 Listings
  • Canyon Lake 474 Listings
  • Castle Hills 24 Listings
  • Castroville 95 Listings
  • Cibolo 364 Listings
  • Comfort 59 Listings
  • Converse 677 Listings
  • Fair Oaks Ranch 53 Listings
  • Floresville 240 Listings
  • Garden Ridge 10 Listings
  • Helotes 145 Listings
  • Hill Country Village 1 Listings
  • La Vernia 180 Listings
  • Lakehills 139 Listings
  • Leon Valley 20 Listings
  • Live Oak 85 Listings
  • Mico 120 Listings
  • New Braunfels 1566 Listings
  • Olmos Park 9 Listings
  • San Antonio 10856 Listings
  • Schertz 301 Listings
  • Seguin 653 Listings
  • Selma 71 Listings
  • Shavano Park 14 Listings
  • Spring Branch 432 Listings
  • Terrell Hills 17 Listings
  • Universal City 99 Listings
  • Windcrest 29 Listings
  • Hollywood Pk 2 Listings

Stay up to date with the latest from Kimberly Howell Properties.

San Antonio real estate and property information provided by Kimberly Howell Properties. Kimberly Howell Properties does not assume any liability or responsibility for the operation or content of any of the linked resources, nor for any of the interpretations, comments, graphics, or opinions contained therein. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

KJH Properties, Inc. is a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas, Equal Opportunity Employer, and supporter of the Fair Housing Act.

TREC Information About Brokerage Services | TREC Consumer Protection Notice | Privacy Policy

All content © 2009-2023 Kimberly Howell Properties, unless otherwise noted.