shawna trarbach city of lawrence stormwater quality technician
TRANSCRIPT
Water ConservationShawna TrarbachCity of Lawrence
Stormwater Quality Technician
Rain BarrelsXeriscapeRain GardensNative and Drought resistant plantsAround the house tips
Rain Barrels• Collects rain water from off of
your roof• Water can be used for almost
anything, just don’t drink it• 1” of rainfall produces .6
gallon of water per square foot. This results in 600-700 gallons of water flowing from the average house during a 1” rain.
Rain Barrel Setup
Overflow
RaisedPlatform
Downspout
HoseBibb
Garden Hose
Water Filter
When setting up and building your barrel it is important to keep in mind where you will put it. This will help determine where you will place the overflow hose and hose bibb.
Rain BarrelsMultiple barrels can be linked together to increase storage or multiple barrels can be set up on different downspouts.
Rain Barrel MaintenancePeriodically remove debris from filter or screenCheck overflow hose for clogsInspect tank for crack or buildup of debris in the
bottomCheck tank fittings for overflow hose and hose bibbIf mosquiots become a problem, add 1 tablespoon
of vegetable oil to water to form film on topWinterize your barrel by either storing it inside a
garage or shed or store it upside down in its location so it will fully drain and remain relatively clean of debris
XeriscapeRefers to landscaping and gardening in ways
that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation
Xeriscape BenefitsSaves WaterLess MaintenanceNo Fertilizers or PesticidesReduces PollutionProvides Wildlife Habitat
7 Principals of XeriscapingWater ConservationSoil ImprovementCreates Limited Turf AreasUse Appropriate PlantsMulchIrrigateMaintain your landscape
Rain GardensRain Gardens are a landscaped area that receives stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and compacted areas. Compared to a conventional lawn, Rain Gardens can allow 30% more water to soak into the ground.
Benefits of Rain GardensFilters runoff pollutantsDeters flooding impactsConserves waterCreates bird/butterfly habitatIncreases aesthetic benefitsRecharge local groundwaterImprove water qualityProtects rivers and streamsRemove standing water in your yardReduce garden maintenance
Native and Drought Resistant Plants
Rudbeckia, Black Eye Susan
Achillea, Yarrow
Blue Flag Iris
Coreopsis, Tickseed
Native and Drought Resistant Plants
Asclepias, Butterfly Flower Salvia,
Sage
Euphorbia, Spurge
Torch Lily, Kniphofia
Native and Drought Resistant Plants
Little Blue StemBuffalo Grass
Kentucky Bluegrass Sideoats Grama
Around the Home TipsCheck faucets and pipes for leaks
A small drip from the faucet can waste 20 gallons of water per day, larger ones can waste hundreds.
Around the Home TipsCheck your toilets for leaks.
Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak.
Around the Home TipsTake shorter showers.
A four minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water. One way to cut down that time is to turn off the shower while soaping up and then to turn it back on to rinse.
Turn off the water after you wet your tooth brush.
Around the Home TipsKeep a bottle of water in the fridge.
Running tap water to cool it off for drinking is wasteful. Another option is to use ice cubes if you prefer cold drinking water.
Around the Home TipsPut a layer of mulch around trees and plants
Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth. Adding 2-4 inches of organic material will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture.
Around the Home TipsWater during the early parts of the day; avoid
watering when it is windy.Early morning is generally better than dusk
since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early morning watering helps reduce water loss due to evaporation and it is also the best defence against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water when it’s windy, wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed up evaporation.
Around the Home TipsDon’t let the hose run while washing your
car.Clean your car using a pail of soapy water. Use
the hose only for rinsing and use a spray nozzle for higher efficiency. This simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons of water.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
Questions?