This is the first year the Water Check Program has been offered in Iron County. The program offers free sprinkler system evaluations and educational materials to interested homeowners.
As the nation’s second largest consumer of water per person (260 gallons per person per day), Utah has a unique opportunity to makes waves in the realm of water conservation. Approximately two-thirds of drinking water in Utah is used to water lawns and landscapes. Experts agree that much of this water is being applied inefficiently, either due to sprinkler system design flaws or because sprinklers are simply running too long.
This free landscape consultation opportunity consists of a walk-through evaluation of the homeowner’s sprinkler system, followed by simple tests used to determine the amount of water being applied to the landscape, and how evenly that water is being applied. Evaluators then use this information to recommend a watering schedule customized to the homeowner’s individual landscape. The entire process takes approximately one-and-a-half hours.
“This no-cost program is a wonderful example of the cooperation that is occurring among water entities in Utah to help meet water conservation goals,” says Dr. Kelly Kopp, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Plants, Soils and Climate department at Utah State University and an administrator of the Water Check Program.
“The support of the participating water districts and cities has allowed USU Cooperative Extension to reach out to the public in a very big way,” Kopp added. “Individual homeowners now have a resource that will help them save water and money immediately and well into the future.”
Participants are required to have an in-ground, automatic sprinkler system and live within the participating counties. Interested homeowners should call 586-8132 or visit www.SlowTheFlow.org to schedule an appointment.