Recently, the restrooms at the Northcrest Park were vandalized. The Northampton MUD Board is offering a $500 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. If you have any information concerning the vandalism, please contact the MUD office at 281-376-3499.
Northampton residents enjoy an ever-shrinking commodity… large yards. But this amenity comes with a price: More lawn to water = higher water bills. Often our large yards are watered too often and for too long with water frequently running off into the streets. With the cost of water rising and aquifers depleting, we need to be diligent in reducing our water consumption.
The EPA estimates that about 30% of residential water usage is devoted to outdoor uses. To help residents conserve water, the District is supplying free rain sensors to residents who would like to install them on their automatic sprinkler system. A sprinkler rain sensor operates via a gauge mounted on an external arm, that is mounted on a fence or roof gutter near your lawn or garden, attached to the sprinkler system. Disks inside the gauge absorb water and expand more as rain continues falling. These send a message to the sprinkler system controller, interrupting the electronic signal that turns on the sprinklers. The signal is blocked until the disks shrink again to their dry size. The sprinkler controller then receives the start signal, and resumes its spraying schedule.
Estimates vary, but a rain sensor could save you as much as 30% to 45% in outdoor water consumption!
To receive your free rain sensor, please visit the MUD office, M-F 8:30- 4:30.
We are getting ready for another summer trying to have a lush lawn and garden while keeping our water bills manageable!
Often, people water too much, too often, at the wrong times, and the wrong way. Not only does this waste a valuable and increasingly scarce resource, it also makes your lawn look worse by increasing disease, insect, and thatch problems.
If you water every other day, the grass thinks, “I will drink again tomorrow. Why bother to make long, thick roots and work hard?” On the other hand, if you water less frequently but apply more, the grass will produce a deeper, healthy root system, and your water bill will decrease. So, everyone wins.
Reni Brown, former Smith County Master Gardener
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
On average, your yard needs 1 ½ inches of water each week. To determine how long to run your sprinkler:
Run your sprinkler and see how long it takes to get a half inch of water in the can – just like a rain gauge. Usually it’s about 30 minutes. So, 20 minutes, 3 times per week will get an inch of water on your lawn, and 30 minutes 3 times per week will get 1 ½” on your lawn.
Along with mowing the grass too short, watering at night is actually determinantal to your lawn. Homeowners who can’t water in the mornings before work should do it on a weekend morning. The best time is early in the morning: 4 a.m. to 10 a.m.
http://www.greengrassok.com/greengrass-services/how-to-water-your-lawn
Take time to observe your irrigation system. Note where water delivery is coating hard surfaces, like walks or driveways, or where puddling is occurring on the lawn. Adjust nozzles and irrigation duration as needed to ensure you’re making the most efficient use of every drop of water.
Reset your irrigation timer monthly. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of a lawn irrigation system. Don’t let your system run on summer settings once your region’s rainy season arrives.
Cost isn’t the only concern. Dr. Gene Taylor from Texas A&M communicates some thought-provoking statistics on water.
All of the above reinforce our need to conserve water. And there are more short-term benefits to being frugal with water, too.
Over-watering is a frequent problem that can easily be remedied to the benefit of your lawn and checkbook. Here are some water conservation tips.
Cynthia Branch Mills, former Smith County Master Gardener
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/dont-be-a-lawn-watering-dummy