LOUDOUN WATER
www.loudounwater.org 44865 Loudoun Water Way Ashburn, VA 20147
ON TAP
LOUDOUN WATER UPDATE | JULY/AUGUST 2015
JULY: SMART IRRIGATION MONTH July is Smart Irrigation Month, an initiative by the Irrigation Association to increase public awareness of the value of water-use efficiency, as well as watersaving products, practices and services. Landscape to suit your lot Choose grass or plants that have lower water requirements and will thrive in our climate. Consider your lot’s exact features like sun, shade, dry and damp areas, plant size and how you plan to use each section of your yard. Keep soil healthy Aerating your lawn and around trees at least once a year helps improve water penetration. When planting, turn and cultivate the soil and add compost or fertilizer to improve moisture retention and grow healthier plants that need less water to stay strong. Mulch well around plants, bushes and trees Using two to four inches of mulch reduces evaporation, moderates spikes and lows in soil temperatures, improves water penetration and helps control weeds that compete for water.
water they need without over watering. Separate plants from grassy areas, which have different water requirements. Plant in spring or fall Avoid planting in the summer when temperatures are hotter, which means plants will need more water to become fully established. Save grass for functional areas Plant grass in play zones and other areas where it will be used and enjoyed. Plant shade trees The shade they cast creates natural “airconditioning,” lowering air and soil temperatures and reducing soil moisture loss. Maintain your yard regularly A well-maintained yard requires less water, so weed, prune and mow as needed.
Hydro-zone your yard Group plants with similar moisture needs in the same area to make it easier for them to get the
RECOMMENDED TWO-DAY PER WEEK WATERING SCHEDULE: Odd home addresses: Wednesday & Saturday Even home addresses: Thursday & Sunday Commercial companies: Tuesday & Friday Avoid watering from 10 AM - 4 PM to reduce evaporation and water waste.This schedule evenly distributes water use which helps ensure reliable supplies, and it leaves Monday alone - a chance for storage tanks to refill after a weekend of heavy water use.
WATER USE IN SUMMER... According to the EPA, the average American household uses 320 gallons of water per day, about 30 percent of which is devoted directly to outdoor use. Nationwide landscaping irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totalling 9 billion gallons of water per day! Often, water bills are higher in the summer due to outdoor water use. To keep you water bills lower, make an effort to irrigate responsibly. Watering in the evening or early in the morning helps to reduce evaporation and water waste. Set sprinklers to avoid paved areas and allow grass to grow 2-3 inches to enhance root development. Most importantly, keep an eye on the weather. Rain may fulfill your lawn’s watering needs without additional sprinkler time.
RAIN GAUGES AVAILABLE
TIPS FOR SPRUCING UP YOUR SPRINKLER
Most established lawns and gardens in Loudoun County only need about ¾ to 1 inch of water per week to stay healthy. The best (and easiest way) to determine how much time it takes for your sprinkler to deliver that much water is by placing a tuna can to measure the water.
Inspect - Check your system regularly for clogged, broken or missing sprinkler heads.
Looking for something a little more visually appealing? Loudoun Water provides rain gauges upon request! Visit our Administration building in Ashburn to pick one up for free.
Direct - Make sure your sprinklers aren’t watering your driveway, house or sidewalk. This helps to alleviate water waste and excess runoff.
Connect - Examine points where the sprinkler head connects to pipes or hoses. If water pools in your landscape or you have large wet areas, you may have a leak in your system.
Select - A properly scheduled irrigation controller helps to save water and money. An estimated 50 percent of water is normally wasted due to overwatering caused by inefficiencies in irrigation methods and systems.
BEAVERDAY RESERVOIR TEMPORARILY REOPENED Beaverdam Reservoir temporarily reopened to the public on May 30, 2015. Loudoun Water and NOVA Parks have formed a joint partnership along with the community to reopen this wonderful local asset. What you need to know to enjoy Beaverdam: - Loudoun Water owns the reservoir and surrounding property. Loudoun Water wants to ensure safe reliable drinking water for all residents for years to come. - NOVA Parks will manage the reservoir as a recreational asset. NOVA Parks will maximize the value of this amenity for the community to enjoy. - Beaverdam Reservoir is a source of public drinking water first and foremost. Do your part to keep the water clean. - Water levels will periodically fluctuate as needed.
- Public Access Schedule: 2015/2016: Open 2017/2018: Closed 2019: Grand Reopening (Permanent) - Look for NOVA Park signs. Please adhere to posted rules and regulations. Parking will be limited.
Questions on park rules and regulations? Call NOVA Parks Staff at 703.327.3403 or visit www.nvrpa.org/park/Beaverdam.
AQUIARY TRAILS OPEN Our outdoor interpretive trails are open every day from dawn to dusk and are nearly one mile long. The trail features a fountain, low-water landscape, bioretention basin, wetlands, overlooks, reforestation areas and ponds. While you’re out on our trails, feel free to Instagram your favorite exhibit and tag it with the hashtag, #loudounwater.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT LOUDOUN WATER? Loudoun Water has many projects and studies underway as part of our Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP provides the design and construction of new infrastructure to upgrade and maintain our water and wastewater systems. Improvements are made annually to meet the extra demands and maintenance needs associated with a growing service area. Typically, Loudoun Water plans at least five years ahead for capital improvements so that sufficient time is allotted for their design and construction. Information on active projects and studies are found on our Current Projects page on our website!
HURRICANE SEASON PREPARATION Hurricane season is June 1 - November 30. All residents are encouraged to plan ahead to protect themselves, their families and their property. Prepare an Emergency Water Supply • All households should prepare an emergency water supply to serve as a drinking water source. Unopened commercially bottled water is often the safest and more reliable emergency water supply. • Store at least one gallon of water per day for each person and each pet. You should consider storing more water than this for hot climates, for pregnant women and for persons who are sick. • Store at least a three day supply of water for each person and each pet (try to store a 2-week supply if possible). • Observe the expiration date for store-bought water; replace other stored water every six months. • Store a bottle of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach to disinfect your water and to use for general cleaning and sanitizing. Water Containers (Cleaning and Storage) • If you are planning to store water, consider purchasing food-grade water storage containers which are often found at surplus or camping supply stores. Before filling with safe water, follow these steps to clean and sanitize your storage containers: • Wash the storage container with dishwashing soap and water and rinse completely with clean water. • Sanitize the container by adding a solution made by mixing 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in one quart of water.
• Cover the container and shake it well so that the sanitizing bleach solution touches all inside surfaces of the container. • Wait at least 30 seconds and then pour the sanitizing solution out of the container. • Let the empty sanitized container air-dry before use OR rinse the empty container with clean, safe water that already is available. • Avoid using the following containers to store safe water: • Containers that cannot be sealed tightly or that can break, such as glass bottles. • Containers that have ever been used for any toxic solid or liquid chemicals (includes old bleach containers). • Plastic or cardboard bottles, jugs, and containers used for milk or fruit juices. For proper water storage, • Label container as “drinking water” and include storage date. • Replace stored water that is not commercially bottled every six months. • Keep stored water in a place with a fairly constant cool temperature. • Do not store water containers in direct sunlight or in areas where toxic substances such as gasoline or pesticides are present.
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG: MISS UTILITY
#LOUDOUNWATER
Virginia state law requires anyone who digs in their yard to notify Virginia 811 before beginning any work. With a single call, homeowners and contractors can notify all utility companies about proposed excavation, which helps to prevent dangerous and costly situations. To avoid damaging underground utility lines, homeowners should contact Virginia 811 at least three working days before beginning any digging project. It’s a simple step that can make construction, planting or home improvement safer while preventing utility outages that are inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
Loudoun Water is on Instagram! Click on the photo above to visit our page and follow us for updates.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Loudoun Water is getting ready to redo our website and we need your input! If you are interested in helping and are a Loudoun Water customer, email your name, phone number and availability the week of July 13th for a phone interview to communications@loudounwater.org.
SHOW US YOUR GARDEN We asked Loudoun Water staff to show off their gardens and found out that a lot of our employees are growing beautiful (and tasty) gardens! Below are some of the photo submissions we received from staff. We’d love to see YOUR garden! Send in a photo of your garden to communications@loudounwater.org and you could be featured in our next issue of On Tap or our Facebook page. Whether you’re growing vegetables or you have a beautiful flower garden, we’d love to see it!
PAYMENT METHOD QUESTIONS ANSWERED
CONNECT WITH US
#loudounwater
As a reminder, auto-debt is currently unavailable, but we are diligently working toward a new payment solution. Please use one of our alternate payment methods when submitting any payments. We thank you for your patience! We’ll have more information to come soon. While we cannot offer auto-debt at this time, we have several other payment methods in place for your convenience. You can pay online free of charge, pay by phone, mail a check, or visit our facility and make a payment in person. If you have any questions, please call our Customer Service team at 571.291.7880.