Sonoma’s ahead on voluntary water conservation

In light of a state-wide drought, Governor Schwarzenegger is requiring many communities to cut their water use – but so far, Sonoma isn’t one of them.
Instead, the Sonoma County Water Agency is asking city residents to conserve voluntarily, as they did last year, in hopes of avoiding more drastic measures. According to SCWA water specialist Carrie Pollard, a little effort can make a big difference.
“Most people over-irrigate their turf by 200 percent,” Pollard said in an interview this week. “If you use it five days, cut that down to four.” That is, of course, for those who plan to keep their turf – those who change to water-wise landscaping can cut their use by two-thirds and get a city rebate for $550.
Switching from overhead sprays to drip irrigation also helps, Pollard said, as does knowing how much water your plants really need. Based on current weather conditions, a simple phone call to 543-3466 will tell how many minutes to run sprinklers and drip.
While the usual water-saving advice is to water at night, some might be concerned with mold. Pollard said the best practice is to begin irrigation in the pre-dawn hours, rather than letting water stand and accumulate in the cool nights.
She advised that people take advantage of the City of Sonoma’s free Water Smart Home Program. “They will come out and measure exactly how you need to irrigate.”
For more information, call 547-1968.