With summer’s high water demands and another year of below average rainfall, large portions of Connecticut are experiencing and extended dry conditions and near record water demands, and Southwest Fairfield County has been classified as drought sensitive.
As a result, Aquarion Water Company has placed a mandatory irrigation schedule for its customers in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Newtown, Stamford and Westport, Connecticut. The schedule limits landscape irrigation systems to a maximum of twice weekly.
Here’s how it works:
- Twice-weekly restrictions will apply to both in-ground systems and above-ground sprinklers.
- Drip irrigation systems, soaker hoses and manual watering are exempt.
- Aquarion Water Company customers can file for a variance to allow for additional watering time if the property is: 1) larger than two acres or 2) qualifies as an irrigation-efficient by utilizing smart weather-based irrigation controller technology.
ELM’s water technology meets exemption criteria:
ELM’s water and resource conservation program includes a strategic partnership with Weathermatic®, a global leader in digital water technologies. This means ELM has the water conservation tools commercial property managers need to advance irrigation efficiency, collect real time water data (quantity and quality), and use that data to save water and cost.
Eight ways to conserve water outdoors:
- Create a drought-tolerant landscape plant palette.
- Enhance soil hydration through mulching, amendments and hydrogels
- Convert underperforming turf to meadows with perennials and ornamental grasses.
- Adopt digital innovation technologies to improve water use performance.
- Make sure that your irrigation system is part of your building operation’s financial dashboard system.
- Install smart water technology, to manage water distribution, gauge irrigation requirements, and save on water costs.
- Use proper irrigation methods to improve system efficiencies.
- Install pressure-regulating devices, which apply water directly to plants, and high-efficiency nozzles or other devices, such as drip system alternatives, as conservation measures.
ELM’s commitment to conserve water is a corporate strategy to manage your water better and manage environmental resources better. Learn how your journey toward intelligent water use can be expedited through smart water technologies and what steps you can take to be in compliance with water mandates.
Contact Jamie Gorton,ELM’s resource conservation expert at 203-316-5433.