Smart controllers and odd/even schedules are among the best ways to save
Summer is here and water use in the Roslyn Water District (RWD) will spend the next few months at its annual peak. While there are many contributing factors to this increase in water use, the biggest of them all is lawn irrigation. Luckily, there are many things that residents can do to lower their water use while watering their lawns, most of which require only small habit changes in your day-to-day life.
“All of Long Island draws its water from the sole-source aquifer hundreds of feet below the ground, and we must all work together to protect it,” said RWD Chairman Michael Kosinski. “We understand the desire of residents to have green lawns, but more than half of water used during lawn irrigation is wasted due to poor practices. There are a number of easy ways in which residents can conserve water while watering their lawns and we encourage all of them to join us in engaging in these efforts.”
The best way to conserve a great deal of water with minimal effort by switching from a standard irrigation timer to a smart irrigation controller. These devices connect to WiFi to tap into local weather reports and adjust sprinkler systems’ schedules accordingly, guaranteeing that lawns receive just the right amount of water they need in order to stay lush and green without the risk of overwatering. Most who make the switch to a smart irrigation controller can see their savings of up to 30 percent, making it so that they pay for themselves in no time. Given this technology’s effectiveness and availability, the RWD is requiring that all residents with an inground irrigation system make the switch from standard irrigation timers to smart controllers by 2025.
Residents must also follow Nassau County’s Odd/Even Watering Ordinance. The ordinance states that odd-numbered properties can only water their lawns on odd-numbered days of the month, and even-numbered properties and properties without numbers can only be watered on even-numbered days. Additionally, lawns cannot be watered between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as these are peak evaporation times.
In order to mitigate water supply challenges caused by irrigation systems running at the same time, the RWD has started a community-specific lawn-watering schedule for residents based on their village. This approach helps distribute the demand evenly throughout the day, preventing strain on the water distribution system. Scheduled water times include the following:
- Villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Estates and Roslyn Harbor: 10 p.m. – midnight
- Village of East Hills: midnight – 2 a.m.
- Villages of Flower Hill and North Hills and unincorporated areas of Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Albertson, Glenwood Landing and Port Washington: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- Municipal properties: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Residents who have yet to install a smart controller can see considerable savings by following the RWD’s Save 2 program. This program is designed to help residents save approximately 10 percent on their water usage, ultimately helping them save on their water bill as well. All they have to do is cut back irrigation usage by two minutes per zone. Since grass only needs one inch of water per week to stay healthy, shortening watering times by two minutes does not have any negative effects on the health of your lawn.
For more tips on how to save water around the house during the summer, visit www.roslynwaterdistrict.org/water-conservation.
Information provided by the Roslyn Water District.
