City offers water-saving tips

Now that the Sonoma County Water Agency is once again calling for conservation, the City of Sonoma is ready for the challenge.
The city already offers many residential programs to help families conserve and, has enacted an ordinance that requires all new construction to be landscaped with water conservation in mind. A drive about town reveals many lawns with sod rolled back, presumably sacrificed for greater water efficiency. The days of mid-day sprinkling are fading fast.
Sonoma Public Works Director Milenka Bates said what the city wants is for people to do what they did so well last year. “We’re really asking people to do it again. I’d really like to see everybody in the city to turn down their irrigation for a minute. Check for leaks, when you go to higher efficiency appliances, you notice it in your water bill.” Drawing down local supplies is not the idea, she said – the point is to conserve.
The city’s water conservation program includes:
– Ultra Low-Flow Toilet Rebate – Get rebates of $100 per toilet for replacing your non-water conserving toilets.
– WaterSmart Home Program – FREE home water use evaluation and water saving recommendations. Call 547.1910 to schedule an appointment.
– Water Conservation Fixtures – Free, high-quality showerheads, faucet aerators, hose nozzles and dye tabs are available at City Hall.
– Residential Clothes Washer Rebate – Go to www.conservationrebates.com for rebate amounts and qualifying models.
– Demonstration Gardens – Visit the garden to get ideas for low water use landscaping. Call 938.3681 to get directions and plant list for the two low water-use gardens.
– Cash for Grass Rebate – The city will pay for turf removal and planting low water-use plants. Call 547.1968 to get an application for this great program.