“The City of Sacramento wants our customers to let Mother Nature water their lawns,” said Dave Brent, Director of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. “Sprinklers should be turned off when it is raining and can be kept off for several days or possibly even weeks afterwards because the moisture from the rain is still in the soil and feeding the grass and plants.”
"The city is working towards a 20 percent water use reduction and sprinklers are a large part of our everyday water use,” reminded Brent. “In fact, for most homes, sprinklers make up more than 50 percent of their water use. So cutting back on sprinkler days and length of time that they run is key to helping the city meet its goal and protect our water resources for the dry summer months ahead.”
The city wants to remind residents to monitor the moisture and not water if the ground is soft. An easy test is to stick a screwdriver in the grass, if it goes in easily, then the lawn doesn't need to be watered.
Related Stories
Climate change whiplash could mean more flooding, water-management challenges in California
January 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.
Winged warning: Migrating birds hit hard by California’s drought
November 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.
Water Shortages: Why Some Californians Are Running Out In 2021 And Others Aren’t
June 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.
As Drought Intensifies, State Warns Users To Stop Pumping Water From Major Rivers
June 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
California’s Reservoirs Face Dangerously Low Levels
June 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
