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WATER WISE: FOLSOM'S COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR WATER CONSERVATION
WATER WISE:FOLSOM'S COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR WATER CONSERVATION
Water usage remains a dominant topic of con-versation around town and across the state as stubborn multi-year below normal precipitation conditions continue. California has a long history of working through periodic shortages of water supplies inside a tremendously complex system of storage and conveyance infrastructure, agencies, rights, mandates and court orders.
At our local level, the City of Folsom operates its own water department with a water rights portfolio of 34,000 acre feet per year. We have never used our full allocation and with our current conservation progress expect to use only about half that this year. As with all water rights across the state, these rights are collectively reduced during dry years. These reduction mandates come from various state and federal agencies and can change quickly.
I need to express my sincere thanks to the many Folsom residents and businesses that have eager-ly embraced a spirit of reduced water use through many different conservation measures. Your city staff and City Council are at your service and com-mitted to striking the right balance of local gov-ernment support for these efforts. This includes incentives that aren’t too costly and regulations that aren’t overly burdensome or a threat to any business in our local economy.
Please continue to advance your water conserva-tion efforts wherever possible and don’t hesitate to contact us with any ideas or concerns.
Andy Morin Andy Morin, Mayor of Folsom
The average Folsom household uses 600 gallons of water per day during summer and most of that watering occurs outdoors. Here are some easy tips to reduce water use. Find the right combinati on for you to reduce by 32 percent or 192 gallons a day.
water saving tips provided by folsom city officials:
USE A bROOM instead of a hose to clean driveways, sidewalksandpatios;savefivegallonsperminute.
USE AN AUTOMATIC ShUT-OFF NOzzLEonyour hose;savefivegallonsperminute.
INSTALL A WATER-EFFICIENT dRIp IRRIgATION SYSTEMforyourtrees,shrubsandflowers;Save15 gallonseachtimeyouwater,forabout500squarefeet landscapearea.
Add TWO-ThREE INChES OF MULCharoundtrees andplantstoreduceevaporation;save30gallonseach timeyouwaterper1,000squarefeet.
QUICkLY REpAIR LEAkS ANd bROkEN SpRINkLER hEAdS;save20gallonsperdayperleak.
WATER YOUR YARd EARLY IN ThE MORNINg OR LATER AT NIghT; save50gallonseachtimeyouwater.
pLANT LOW-WATER USE TREES ANd pLANTS; save ninegallonsperday,per1,000squarefeet.
AdjUST SpRINkLERS TO AVOId OVERSpRAY ANd RUNOFF;savemorethan40gallonseverytimeyou water,andalsostopfertilizersandpesticidesfrom washingintothestormdrain,whichleadsdirectlytoour creeks,streamsandrivers.
REdUCE EACh IRRIgATION CYCLE bY TWO MIN UTES,fivestations,wateringthreetimesweekly,or eliminateonecycleperweek;save80gallonsperday.
INSTALL A WATER-SENSE LAbELEd, “SMART” irrigationcontrollertoadjustwateringbasedupon weather,soiltype,sunexposureandplanttype;save 100to150gallonsperday.
EVERY dROp COUNTS
WATER SAVINg TIpS AT hOMETips collected by Laura Newell
OUTdOOR:
FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 3
dON’T USE ThE TOILET AS A WASTEbASkET; 1.6 gallonsperflushforultralowflushtoilets.
RUN ThE dIShWAShER ONLY WhEN FULL;2-4.5 gallonsperload.
dON’T LEAVE WATER RUNNINg WhILE RINSINg dIShES;2.5gallonsperminute,standardflowper minutesinkfaucetat80psi.
FILL ThE bAThTUb hALFWAY OR LESS;save12.5 gallons,averagebathis25gallons.
TAkE FIVE MINUTE ShOWERSinsteadof10 minuteshowers;save12.5gallonswithawaterefficient showerhead,2.5gallonsperminute.
TURN OFF WATER WhEN bRUShINg TEETh OR ShAVINg;saveapproximately10gallonsperday.
WASh ONLY FULL LOAdS OFclothes;15-45 gallonsperload.
FIx LEAkY FAUCETS;15-20gallonsperdayperleak.
FIx LEAkY TOILETS;30-50gallonsperdaypertoilet.
INSTALL A WATER-EFFICIENT CLOThES WAShER; save15gallonsperload,averagetoploaderis30-40 gallonsperload.
Folsom’s Water Conservation Coordinator Don Smith leads a train-
ing session on “Water Wise House Calls” in Folsom.
INdOOR:
INSTALL A WATER- ANd ENERgY-EFFICIENT dIShWAShER;savethreetoeightgallonsperload.
INSTALL AERATORS ON ThE kITChEN FAUCET; reduceflowstolessthan1.5gallonperminute.
INSTALL EFFICIENT, WATERSENSE-LAbELEd ShOWER hEAdS;saveonegallonperminute,or10 gallonsperaverage10minuteshower.
INSTALL A hIgh-EFFICIENCY WATERSENSE- LAbELEd TOILET;1.28gallonsperflush,save19 gallonsperpersonperday.
INSTALL AERATORS ON bAThROOM FAUCETS; save 1.2gallonsperpersonperday.
Q: “How are you helping to save water at home?”
A: “We eliminated our lawn, and put in a concrete patio.”
John Snooks of Folsom
Recommended gallons
TOTAL gALLONS USEd pER dAY pER hOME
NU
MbE
R O
F pE
OpL
E pE
R h
OU
SEh
OLd
100
32 64 96 128 160 192 224 256 288 320
16 32 48 64 80 96 112 128 144 160
11 21 32 43 53 64 75 85 96 107
8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80
6 13 19 26 32 38 45 51 58 64
5 11 16 21 27 32 37 43 48 53
200 300
1
400
2
500
3
600
4
700
5
800
6
900 1000
RECOMMENdEd gALLONS pER pERSON TO SAVE pER dAY bASEd ON hOUSEhOLd SIzE
PAGE 4 WATER WISE 2015 FOLSOM TELEGRAPH
After 20 years in the Fol-som community, Folsom Glenn Car Wash switched out its old water recycling system with new advanced technology meant to save more than half of the water used at the carwash.
“Our old system had one filter and our new system has multiple filters,” said Jon Tilford, Folsom Glenn Car Wash general manger.
“We are estimating that with our new system we will be saving 50 percent of our overall water use
and 70 percent of our wa-ter used will be recycled, not fresh water.”
The PurWater 300 Series Water Recovery System was installed by PurClean based out of Sacramen-to. The new system has been engineered and designed specifically with the professional car wash operator in mind.
“At Folsom Glenn, we all work and live in Folsom and want to do our part to cut back on water,” Tilford
said. “On average, we see 300 or so customers a day come through to get their vehicle washed. We want our loyal customers to know that we invested in this new system to benefit the overall water conserva-tion in Folsom.”
The PurWater 300 Series Water Recovery System cost the car wash facility $20,000 to install and Tilford expects to have it paid off in the next two-three years.
The installation took one night and did not af-fect the business during working hours.
“We are and will continue to be your local full-service car wash facility,” Tilford said. “We want you to be able to walk in, drop off your car and relax while we do all the work.”
Folsom Glenn Car Wash is located at 414 Glenn Drive in Folsom. For more infor-mation, call (916) 983-8977 or visit folsomcarwash.com.
NEW TEChNOLOgY SAVES 50 pERCENT OF OVERALL WATER AT FOLSOM gLENNby Laura Newell Of the Telegraph
Folsom Glenn Car Wash recently switched out their old water recycling system with new advanced technol-ogy which will save more than half of the water used daily. (photo by Laura Newell The Telegraph)
Q: “How are you helping to save water at home?”
A: “I’m taking shorter showers and not watering the grass as much.”
Eny Vencer of Folsom
FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 5
PAGE 6 WATER WISE 2015 FOLSOM TELEGRAPH
CITY OF FOLSOM’S WATER REdUCTION pLANThe City of Folsom announced its plans to reduce water use citywide by 32 percent, as well as a comprehensive rebate program for its water customers. The plan is in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s emergency executive order, which directs a 25 percent reduction statewide in urban water use compared with 2013. The State Water Resources Control Board water conservation regulations require the City of Folsom to reduce water consumption by 32 percent.
ThE CITY OF FOLSOM IS TAkINg ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO COMpLY WITh STATE MANdATES WhILE pRESERVINg COMMUNITY AESThETICS ANd pROTECTINg ThE CITY’S WATER RIghTS bY:
Reducing watering in parks by 1/3. Residents will notice dry, distressed grass in some areas of parks. High traffic areas, including sports fields, will remain green.
Removing turf and retrofitting irrigation in more than 30 medians citywide equaling approximately 1.5 acres.
Turning off irrigation on nearly one acre of ornamental streetscapes that do not have trees.
Reducing irrigation run times along city streetscapes and mini-parks to reduce water yet sustain important tree habitats.
Prohibiting new homes and buildings from irrigating with potable water unless water-efficient drip irrigation systems are used.
Replacing sprinklers at City Hall with water- efficient sprinklers.
Upgrading other city facilities with water-efficient irrigation systems.
FOLSOM WATER CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO AChIEVE ThE 32 pERCENT CONSERVATION MANdATE bY:
Limiting watering to two days a week, on designated watering days, in accordance with Folsom’s Stage 3 restrictions.
Detecting leaks and identifying inefficiencies with a free water-wise home consultation, commercial water audit or large landscape irrigation audit, available through the City of Folsom.
Replacing old appliances, fixtures and plumbing with more water-efficient models.
Folsom water customers can track water use and refer to 2013 water consumption by reviewing Folsom utility bills or by downloading the City of Folsom’s water conservation app Dropcountr. The City of Folsom offers a comprehensive guide to water conservation at folsom.ca.us.
“Folsom water customers have done a remarkable job of conserving water, and Folsom has had some of the highest conservation rates in the state,” said Mayor Andy Morin. “It will be a bit of a give and take, but I believe we can band together and strike a balance in order to maintain the high quality of our community while remaining environmentally responsible and in compliance with state regulations.”
Folsom residents successfully reduced water consumption by 21 percent in 2014. The city reduced water consumption in parks by 27 percent, and 31 percent in Landscape and Lighting Districts. This was among the highest conservation rates statewide.
For more information about water conservation resources or to report water waste, contact (916) 355-7252 or [email protected].
Q: “How are you helping to save water at home?”
A: “I try to save water every way I can. My showers are shorter. I turn off the faucet when brushing my teeth and while I’m washing dishes. My sprinklers are set for only two times a week, and I only go to car washes that conserve water.”
Shaun Rehmain of Folsom
FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 7
As California enters its fourth year of below normal rain and snow, water supply, water use, and water conser-vation remain important topics. The drought is a western-region phenome-non, and water conservation is a state-wide concern. Understandably, current conditions raise the question, “Why is my city allowing new development during a drought?”
As the City of Folsom plans for the future, a clear under-standing of Folsom’s water supply—and the City’s plans to preserve and protect it—is important.
The city’s water rights date back to 1851—among the oldest in the state—and the city is committed to pro-tecting those rights for the benefit of our current and future residents. The City of Folsom has rights to 34,000 acre feet of water from Folsom Lake, and consumes less than two percent of the water that passes through Folsom Dam each year. Last year, the city used just over half of its allocated supply.
Folsom’s new housing demand, including the devel-opment south of 50, is also relatively low, comprising just four percent of the planned housing in the entire Sacramento region through 2036.
Folsom will have the water infrastructure and supply, as well as long-standing water rights and contracts, to serve our current population and future residents and businesses south of 50, even in the driest years.
While the issue is broad and complex, I offer a brief-ing paper that provides important local context to the statewide topic of the drought, water conservation and development. The briefing paper and other import-ant information about Folsom’s water management is available at folsom.ca.us under “Folsom Drought and Rebate Information.”
In an effort to help save water and keep their back-yard green, Andrea and Jim den Dulk of Folsom, decided to take out their grass lawn and install an artificial turf and drip-sys-tem landscape.
“After some sprinkler trouble, we sat down and decided to really think about how to make our yard water smart,” Jim said. “We decided to take out our entire lawn and sprinkler system and switch it to (artificial) turf and a full drip system.”
Jim said he contacted Ryan McConnell, owner of The Turf Man, to help with the landscape transition.
McConnell has been help-ing homeowners convert their landscaping from high to low maintenance through his expertise in artificial turf and plant care.
According to McConnell, artificial turf offers a low maintenance alternative to common landscape, a clean kids’ play area and putting greens. Plus, it is safe for use around salt and chlorinated pools. The artificial turf also offers a clean area for pets to play outside.
“There is no maintenance for us and it always looks great,” Jim said. “This has really been a good deci-sion for our home. It is less maintenance, less water, looks beautiful and is an overall cost saver.”
Artificial turfs come in a variety of grass heights, colors and densities to perfectly fit each individual project and budget.
For more information, visit theturfman.com.
dEVELOpMENT ThROUgh ThE dROUghT
SAVE WATER bY REpLACINg gRASS WITh TURF
by City Manager Evert palmer
by Laura Newell Of the Telegraph
Jim den Dulk stands with his son Reijer on their new artificial turf in their Folsom backyard. (photo by Laura Newell / The Telegraph)
PAGE 8 WATER WISE 2015 FOLSOM TELEGRAPH
SMALL ChANgES MAkE A bIg dIFFERENCEby Lydia McNabb Of the Telegraph
While turf replacement may be a perfect water conservation tool for some, significant wa-ter savings can also be achieved through less drastic measures.
Rob Swartz, manager of technical services for the Regional Water Author-ity, has lived in Folsom since 2001 and decreased his water usage without changing his yard.
“With regular landscap-ing I was able to save 34 percent,” said Swartz,
whose property includes a pool, trees, bushes and other plants. “You don’t have to tear everything out or let everything die. It’s just a matter of pay-ing attention.”
Swartz’ main strategy involves decreasing the irrigation of his yard by running the sprinklers for less time and less often.
“I turn off the sprinklers several months a year,” said Swartz, who didn’t turn on his sprinklers in 2014 until May 1. “When
natural moisture is in the air, you don’t need it.”
When it came time to wa-ter again, Swartz gradually decreased the irrigation time from 15 minutes to 10 minutes and so on until the grass looked stressed but alive. He also only wa-tered twice a week on the designated watering days.
“It’s really in the summer months where you get the biggest savings,” Swartz said. “I didn’t take any extraordinary measures.
I followed what the city said to do.”
This year, Swartz keeps his watering down to roughly five minutes a day, two days a week. He’s seen similar savings so far and expects to continue throughout the summer.
“We’re in a real drought,” Swartz said. “We really all do have to contribute to getting through it. It’s time to pay attention to what you’re doing. It’s going to make a difference.”
Rob Swartz saves water while keeping his yard in Folsom alive.
Q: “How are you helping to save wa-ter at home?”
A: “I haven’t turned on the sprinklers yet (this year). I have an aquar-ium and I drain that outside onto the grass. My water heater takes forever so I save the water while it’s heating up for other things.”
Chris Young of Folsom
FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 9
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kNOW YOUR WATERINg dAYSThe City of Folsom reminds residential and business customers that Stage 3 water restrictions remain in effect, and sprinkler use is limited to two days per week.
Watering days are based on the last digit of your street address. Odd addresses may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and even addresses on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Watering must occur between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. Washing down hardscapes, driveways and sidewalks is not permitted, and a shut-off hose nozzle is required.
For many of us, the most puzzling piece of technology in our homes is our sprinkler controller. It doesn’t have to be this way. By taking a few simple steps you can master your sprinkler controller and begin to water efficiently.
Learn more about Stage 3 restrictions, water-wise home landscaping and maintenance at folsom.ca.us.
PAGE 10 WATER WISE 2015 FOLSOM TELEGRAPH
WATER CONSERVATION INCENTIVES AVAILAbLE ThROUgh MpOWERThe City of Folsom’s mPOWER financing program is committed to helping its customers save water and money during the drought. The process-ing fee is being waived for all applications received between May 1 and Oct. 31, if $1,500 in water effi-ciency upgrades or more are included in the proj-ect. That's a $500 savings for residential projects or $1,300 for non-residential.
The types of water con-servation measures that can be financed include low-flow toilets, high efficiency nozzles and faucets, drip irrigation sys-tems, improved hot water delivery systems and lawn replacement with artificial turf or pavers. Applications
can also include improve-ments such as tankless water heaters and weath-er-based smart-controllers for irrigation systems.
mPOWER is a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. It pro-vides financing to residen-tial and business property owners to make energy efficiency improvements, including solar and water conservation measures. PACE is unique in that the financing will be repaid by adding the annual install-ments to a property tax bill.
By far the most common mPOWER installations are solar power systems. mPOWER has provided financing for 655 solar systems on homes and
businesses in Roseville, Folsom, Lincoln, Auburn, Rocklin, rural Placer Coun-ty and the Tahoe area. In addition, multiple improve-ments can be financed on a single application. Many property owners install a new heating and air conditioning system to-gether with higher insu-lation value windows and doors. Businesses have also taken advantage of the financing offered by mPOWER to install LED lighting, replace boilers and HVAC systems and to install cool roofs.
Since August of 2014, mPOWER has provided over $27 million in financ-ing to more than 800 property owners making it the most successful public
energy efficiency and wa-ter conservation financing program in the Sacramen-to region. The mPOWER Program objectives are too create jobs, increase ener-gy independence, pro-mote water conservation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Officials es-timate that mPOWER has created over 522 jobs.
mPOWER is currently available throughout Placer County and the City of Folsom and it is in the process of expanding to other municipalities throughout the region. Individuals, businesses and municipalities can con-tact mPOWER at mpowerplacer.org or by calling toll free (877) 396-7693.
TrackingwateruseforFolsom’swatercus-tomersiseasierthaneverbefore,thankstoanewtechtoolrecentlyintroducedbytheCityofFolsom.
ThecitylaunchedapilotprogramlastDecembertoprovideeasyaccesstowaterusedatathroughafreeapp.Dropcountrtrackshowmuchwateryouuseeverydayandcomparestheconsumptiontousersofsimilarfamilyandlotsize.SincetheDropcountrapplaunchedinSeptemberof
lastyear,morethan2,000Folsomwatercustomershavedownloadedtheprogram.
TheDropcountrappevenhelpedonelocalresidentsaveaconsiderableamountofwaterathishome.TheFolsomhomeownerwasunawarethathisswimmingpoolhadaleak.Fortunately,hehadtheDropcountrapp on his phone and noticed that his householdwaterconsumptionwassignifi-cantlyhigherthanhisneighbors.Hewasabletoquicklyidentifytheproblemandre-pairtheleak,savingbothmoneyandwater.
Signingupisquickandeasy.SimplydownloadtheDropcountrappfromAppleorGooglePlay,orgotodropcountr.comtosignuponyourpersonalcomputer.Youwillneedyournameandaccountnumber,whichisprintedonyourFolsomutilitybill.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,contacttheCity’[email protected](916)355-7252.
WATER CONSERVATION — ThERE’S AN App FOR ThAT
FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 11
A new rebate program is available for Folsom water customers, and it’s already quite the hit. Five different rebate programs for water smart items such as turf replacement and high-efficiency toilets began May 13.
According to Don Smith, water management coordinator for the City of Folsom, the programs had a deluge of applicants respond the very first day.
“We’ve had a ridiculously strong response,” Smith said. “We were overwhelmed the first day. The applications opened at 9 a.m., and half of Folsom must have had their hands over the send button.”
The turf replacement and irrigation programs proved popular enough to create a waitlist of applicants.
“Outdoor water use is the biggest single segment of water use,” Smith said. “If the only time you step on lawn is to mow it, think about why you have it. If you have kids or pets, it’s not unreasonable to have, but think about how much you have.”
While the turf removal and irrigation programs currently have waitlists, residents can still sign up on the city website.
“As funding becomes available or people drop out, people can move up on list,” Smith said.
Potential applicants are urged to read the details of the programs before signing up, as some projects require a pre-, post- or random inspection and are not available retroactively.
“The point of these programs is to encourage people to think about different ways of doing things,” he said.
“There are solutions to problems that can be found. Each one of the homeowners will save a significant amount of water.”
For more details, applications and terms and conditions for each program, visit folsom.ca.us.
REbATE pROgRAMS:
Cash for Grass Rebate: Customers can receive 50 cents per square foot, up to $1,000, towards the cost of replacing turf with a water-efficient, drought-tolerant landscape.
Irrigation Efficiency Upgrade Rebate: Customers can receive 50 percent of the cost of material, not to exceed $500, to upgrade irrigation systems. Qualified equipment includes smart irrigation controllers that adjust to atmospheric or soil moisture conditions, high-efficient rotary sprinkler nozzles and drip system retrofits.
High-Efficiency Toilets Rebate: Customers can receive 50 percent of the cost of a high- efficiency toilet up to $175, to affordably replace toilets that use 1.6 gallons or more per flush with 1.28 gallons or less per flush.
High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate: In a program administered by SMUD, Folsom water customers can receive up to $100 for purchasing a high-efficiency clothes washer.
Hot Water Recirculating System Rebate: Customers can receive 50 percent of the cost, up to $100, of a recirculating system that provides instant hot water at any fixture in the home.
REbATE pROgRAMS hELp RESIdENTS SAVE WATERby Lydia McNabb Of the Telegraph
FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 13
dROUghT ChAMp: INTEL 1900 prairie City Road, Folsom
Located on the corner of Prairie City and Iron Point roads, Intel’s Folsom campus is the city’s largest employer, with more than 6,200 personnel at the research and development campus. With seven buildings totaling more than 1.5 million square feet of office, test floor and lab space, Intel Folsom is also one of the largest Intel sites, and one of the largest private sector employers in the Sacramento Region. Intel’s Folsom campus is also leading the way in water conservation.
“California’s four-year drought is a wakeup call to California companies that want to be good stewards of our natural resources,” said Duy Tu, facilities manager at Intel Folsom. “We took a holistic approach to our conservation efforts that included landscaping changes and facilities improvements. As a result, we reduced our water usage by 46 percent, exceeding California’s 25 percent water reduction emergency in 2014. Our employees expect us to lead in this area and hold us accountable to high standards.”
As a data driven company, Intel’s facilities team performed an audit of water usage and use a Pareto chart to identify the greatest opportunities. Intel’s Folsom campus saw the largest water savings by replacing lawn with bark, rock and drought-tolerant plants, as well as fixing leaky pipes and fixtures.
With these and other steps, Intel exceeded state mandates by cutting water usage nearly in half, in just one year. Here’s how.
LANdSCApINg Tuned-up entire irrigation system, checking valves and
stems, resulting in a 25 percent water savings
Replaced 1,500 rotors and 10,000 nozzles with high- efficiency units in the landscaping
Reduced turf watering to two days per week, estimating a 46% savings in water usage over 2013
RESTROOM ANd bREAk AREAS Installed .5 GPM aerators on 460 sinks, reducing water
use in sinks by 8%
Adjusted toilet sensors to stop multiple flushes per single user and reduced urinal water flow
FITNESS CENTER Installed 30 1.5 GPM low flow shower heads
FACILITIES Added a chilled water filter, reducing back flush water
use. By installing the filter, Intel was able to maintain a cleaner chilled water system requiring less changing
Hosted an employee Earth Fair event attended by 2,500 Folsom employees that presented water conservation information to staff
Developed and posted informational materials throughout the Intel Folsom facility that feature a QR code, making it quick and easy for employees to submit service requests for any leaking sinks, running toilets or broken sprinkler heads
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FOLSOM TELEGRAPH WATER WISE 2015 PAGE 15
If you think dead grass and deserts are the only land-scapes fit for a drought, think again. A variety of low-water plants thrive in Folsom’s climate, allowing for lush gardens even in the driest of seasons.
Alyson Newe, of Folsom, began her drought toler-ant garden in 2013 at her California Hills home. She hired a landscape architect to design the garden with an emphasis on low-main-tenance and high-impact colors and blooms.
“I didn’t like the desert look,” Newe said. “I wanted something to flower and something very colorful. We wanted things to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.”
Delivering all that and more, Newe’s garden
includes Echinacea, dwarf crepe myrtles, black-eyed Susans, lantanas, lavender, ferns, roses (shrubs and climbing), butterfly bushes, daylilies, hydrangeas and many other drought toler-ant plants. Newe’s prop-erty also includes an herb garden, vegetable beds, fruit trees, blueberries and strawberries.
“Lots of people think a lawn is easier, but I think it’s easier to have drought tolerant garden,” Newe said. “All the watering has changed from pop-up spray nozzles to a drip sys-tem on timers. They time it to what plants needs are and it drips right into root system where they need it, so plants do better.”
Newe also had the lawn in her backyard taken out and replaced with artificial
turf for her dog. Lava rocks fill the space between plants and a dry riverbed in the front yard gives the property a natural look.
“Before it was just a lawn, but now people constantly stop by because every-thing is blooming out,” Newe said. “They say, ‘You’ve got the best yard in the neighborhood!’”
Newe’s drought tolerant garden was part of the Fol-som Garden Club’s garden tour earlier this year. She hopes her example in-spires others to make their yards and gardens drought tolerant, as well.
“It doesn’t have to look like a desert,” Newe said. “You can have awesome flowers and colors, too.”
ThE pERkS OF A dROUghT TOLERANT gARdENby Lydia McNabb Of the Telegraph
Q: “How are you helping to save wa-ter at home?”
A: “We take short showers, reuse wa-ter and water our plants by hand. I think everyone needs to conserve.”
Marty and Scott Holi-man of Folsom
RECOMMENdEd WATERINg TIMES TO AChIEVE A 32% REdUCTION IN OUTdOOR WATERINg
Normal Water Times (Minutes)
Water Time to Achieve 32% Reduction (Minutes)
WATERINg TIMES (MINUTES)53
5, 3–4
7, 4–58, 5–6
9, 610, 6–7
11, 7–812, 8
13, 8–914, 9–10
15, 10
6, 4
64 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
PAGE 16 WATER WISE 2015 FOLSOM TELEGRAPH