Water no more than twice a week. This reduces the daily demand on the city’s water system and distributes city-wide irrigation usage throughout the week.
Water lawns only from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. While this is counter to what lawn care specialists recommend, 30-40% of the city’s water demand in the Summer is used for irrigation. During drought, usage can increase by another 20%. Changing irrigation times reduces the early morning demand on the city’s water system, and coupled with twice a week watering, distributes water use and reduces drastic water use spikes in demand.
Operate irrigation systems manually. Automated irrigation systems can use more water than the plants actually need. Manual operation can help regulate water use more efficiently, watering only when the plants need it. For example, grass in the shade may need water only once per week; grass in the sun may need water only twice per week.
Water only when grass and plants begin to show signs of distress. Watering before plants need it, produces weaker landscapes and lawns with shallow root systems that are more susceptible to drought conditions and pests.
HOAs are asked to reduce irrigation on city's rights-of-way to no more than twice per week and extend their irrigation hours from 12 a.m. midnight to 8 a.m. to help balance city-wide demand.
TAMU Expert advice on Lawn Care and Irrigation Needs - The Fort Bend County Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service offers expert advice on plants and needs in the Sugar Land Area.
Evaluate your irrigation system for water use efficiency. Turn on the system and check for broken and misaligned heads. The city’s WISE Guys program can assist you in evaluating your irrigation systems.