Friday, August 27, 2010

It's September, You Can Cut Back Your Sprinkler Timers

CCWD recommends cutting back watering times on your sprinklers in September.

We suggest watering your lawn three days a week, and your trees, shrubs and groundcover only one to two days per week. Look to our guide for the particulars on operating different types of sprinklers.

Even though it can still get plenty hot in Contra Costa County in September, the days are noticeably getting shorter and the sun is at a lower angle. That means less sunlight and your plants will need less water.

Remove Your Lawn Class in September

Lawn Removal, with Kat Weiss will be held at the Ruth Bancroft Garden on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Learn how to remove and replace your lawn in this informative and hands-on workshop. CCWD is a co-sponsor of these classes.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Save Water With Greywater & Drought Resistant Plants

Here are two ways to continue saving water: establish a greywater system to irrigate your garden, and plant more drought resistant plants in your yard.

A Berkeley group called "Greywater Action" is holding a class on using greywater from your shower on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The class will include a hands on demonstration that will install a greywater system at a home in Berkeley.

There is a fee, but it slides depending on your ability to pay.

Over in Richmond, the Watershed Nursery is having a large sale on a wide-variety of drought- resistant plants. The sale lasts a week and starts on Monday, Aug. 23.

Monday, August 2, 2010

August's Shorter Days Mean You Can Cut Watering For Trees & Shrubs

July and August are the times of the year of highest water demand for your plants.

But in August, the days are starting to get shorter. That means less sun on your yard, so you can use less water and still keep everything green.

For your automatic sprinklers, CCWD recommends cutting back a day on your watering schedule for trees and shrubs. But you probably want to leave your lawn sprinklers about the same during this normally-hot month.

Temperatures have been much cooler than normal so far this summer, so maybe you can cut watering even more than our recommendations.

CCWD August Sprinkler Day Recommendations

Lawn: 3-4 times per week.

Shrubs 2 days per week.


Consult our water use guide for more specific watering information.

Now We Now Have Two Options for $175 High-Efficiency Toilet Rebates

We now have an instant $175 rebate when you buy a WaterSense-labeled High-Efficiency Toilet from one of our participating vendor, or you can get a mail-in $175 rebate when you buy a WaterSense Labeled High Efficiency Toilet for the vendor you choose.

Before you do anything, make sure you pre-qualify for the rebate. We may also need to do an inspection at your home. Call CCWD at 688-8320 or look here for more information.

Drought Tolerant Gardening Class Coming Up

A class on drought-tolerant gardening will be held Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bobbi Feyerabend, a well-known East Bay landscape architect, will discuss the basics of low-water gardening and cover appropriate plant choices, garden design, irrigation and maintenance. She will focus on Mediterranean plants.

These classes are co-sponsored by the Contra Costa Water District.

Look here for more information.

Don't Forget Our Money Saving Coupons for Mulch & Car Washes


It's a great time to save money and water with our "Smart Car Wash" and "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch" coupon programs.

Print these coupons, and save.