With the super El Niño upon us, it begs the question—do I really need to be watering my landscape plants right now? Follow along by watching this video from Gilbert Digital and Gilbert Water Conservation about how to easily turn off your irrigation timer (also called an irrigation controller) before expected winter rains without disturbing your seasonal irrigation programs. How long …
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Tina Sleeper, a Water Resource Specialist at the City of Phoenix and member of Water – Use It Wisely, explains, “My dream is that the urban water cycle becomes as well known as the natural water cycle.” Tina spoke with Harry Helmet recently about residential water conservation and why it’s so important. What was your professional path that led to your work …
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Did you know that you could have your home tested for lead and copper every three years at no cost to you? Every three years, water providers must conduct lead and copper sampling from inside the homes of those they serve. The sample must be collected from a faucet in the home after a six-hour period of no water use …
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The Glendale Water Services Department’s Water Conservation program is celebrating 30 years of working with the community to save water – our most precious resource! Established in 1985, the mission of the Water Conservation Office is to provide a comprehensive water conservation program that promotes efficient water use by providing the information and inspiration needed—to save water. This comprehensive program …
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You may not be an irrigation or water nerd like us, but if you are, you’ve likely heard of the two major types of water efficiency programs: WaterSense and SWAT. But what are the differences? First, a bit of historical context. SWAT History SWAT, or Smart Water Application Technologies, an initiative of the Irrigation Association (IA), is a national partnership of …
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We all marvel at the beauty of a big desert storm and what it does for our plants. It’s like our landscapes are a little more alive after drinking a big gulp of rain. The clean, salt-free properties of rainwater are extremely beneficial for desert plants, and you can make sure your landscapes are quenched by this natural source even …
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You know by now that up to 70% of your water use is outdoors. Strict water conditions are tough on everyone, especially our lawns. Although we do our best to be responsible and conservation-minded when it comes to lawn care, there are some measures you may not know about to keep your lawn healthy when water shortages hit. Raise the mower blades. Raise …
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If you want to find out how to save water and keep a little grass in the backyard, how about asking a city with more than 400 acres of Bermuda to care for? The City of Scottsdale maintains 42 parks that include about 416 acres of grass. Six of the city’s largest parks are strung along Indian Bend Wash, an …
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Swimsuit season is all but here, but there’s still time to put your plants on a diet. Plants use sunlight, CO2, and water* to make food, a process called photosynthesis. As plants make food for themselves, they also make our homes more pleasant for us by releasing oxygen and water into the air through pores in the leaves called stomata. *Plants …
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It is 6:15 a.m., and I am standing in my front yard with a cup of coffee in one hand and a garden hose in the other. The sun is just up. It’s cool still, though the day promises 90 degrees, and quiet. I turn the hose on the two squares of grass, divided by a red-brick walkway. My landscaping …
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Do you know about ENERGY STAR products? Of course, you do… created in 1992, the blue label with its signature star has been helping consumers identify devices that use 20-30% less energy than federal standards (you may also see the label in the lower right corner of the yellow EnergyGuide label that you find on appliances showing the annual cost …
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Sign up for the 2015 Advanced Smartscape: Irrigation and receive expert instruction on efficient landscape water Management. The Advanced Smartscape Irrigation course builds upon the basic Smartscape course by offering in-depth technical training for landscape professionals on the design, installation, maintenance, and management of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in the Sonoran Desert. The course stresses irrigation efficiency and wise …
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