By Jennifer Nations, Water Resource Coordinator
With July being Smart Irrigation Month, it’s an ideal time to improve the efficiency of your outdoor irrigation system.
The City of College Station is here to help.
If learning how to program your sprinkler controller, spot irrigation leaks, and cut your water bills rank high (or at least somewhere) among your summer goals, you’ll want to attend one of College Station Water Services’ free summer workshops.
The first one is Saturday, followed by additional sessions on July 21 and Aug. 4. Each workshop is from 9:30 a.m.-noon at the College Station Utilities Meeting and Training Facility at 1603 Graham Rd.
Each participating household receives a rain gauge, soil moisture meter, and $25 gift card to a home improvement store to start you on your way to saving water. Residents will learn valuable sprinkler system maintenance tips, see the latest in water-saving sprinkler technology, get pro tips from a licensed irrigator, and learn how to receive weekly watering advice from the Brazos Valley Water Smart Network.
If you bring a friend, you’re eligible for a bonus prize!
If you can answer “yes” to at least one of the following statements, make plans to attend one of the workshops.
- You water three or more times per week and are afraid that scaling back your schedule will damage your lawn.
- You have a small lot or water only a small backyard, but your summer water bill exceeds $30-40.
- You’ve had high summer bills in the past and want to avoid a repeat.
- You don’t receive weekly watering recommendations from Brazos Valley Water Smart.
- Your driveway or front sidewalk is wet after every irrigation cycle.
- You have dry spots in your yard despite regular watering and don’t know how to fix it.
- You don’t know how much water your system uses or how much your lawn needs.
- Your irrigation system doesn’t have a rain shut-off device — or you don’t know what one is!
- You see fogging or misting when your sprinkler system operates.
For more information or to register, contact Water Resource Coordinator Jennifer Nations at 979-764-6223 or jnations@cstx.gov.
About the Blogger
Jennifer Nations has been the City of College Station’s water resource coordinator since 1999 after two years as BVSWMA’s environmental compliance officer. She’s also chair of the Water Conservation and Reuse Division for the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association. A native of Fremont, Calif., Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental & resource science from UC-Davis in 1995 and a master’s degree in water management & hydrologic science from Texas A&M in 2016.
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