MARCH 20 – Spring is officially here, and with Bernalillo County in “Severe Drought,” it’s likely to be a dry lead-in to a dry summer. With that in mind, here are a few tips to get the spring watering season off to a responsible start:
- Follow the “Water by the Numbers” program and water just once per week in March. Remember, trees appreciate a deep watering.
- Spring is typically a windy time of year in Albuquerque. Set your sprinklers to run in the early morning hours, before the wind picks up, to reduce water loss.
- Troubleshoot your sprinkler system for leaks, broken heads and emitters, and poorly angled/aimed heads. A broken sprinkler head can waste as much as 16 gallons of water per minute – and irrigation water should never end up in the street or on others’ property.
- If you have a lot of high-water-use plants and turf in your yard, consider replacing them with desert-friendly xeric alternatives. Xeriscape rebates are available to Water Authority customers: http://www.abcwua.org/Xeriscape.aspx
- Need help figuring out how much water your landscape needs? Call 842-WATR, Option 4, to schedule a free irrigation efficiency consultation.
The Water Authority will continue to provide drought information and water-use updates as the year progresses.