Johnston Water Department Asks Residents to Conserve Water

The City of Johnston Water Department is requesting customers to conserve water.

The City of Johnston Water Department wants to remind customers that central Iowa is experiencing drought conditions and that customers need to be good stewards of the resources that are available by using water wisely.

The following tips are suggested to conserve water:

• Customers voluntarily shift watering to no more frequently than the ODD numbered days of the week if their house or business addresses ends with an ODD number and EVEN numbered days if their house address ends with an EVEN number. For example, if your house number is “1521,” it is suggested that you water on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and so on.
• Most soils in the Des Moines area can support a healthy turf, if watered no more frequently than every other day. ISU Extension pamphlet PM 1063, found at their Web page: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1063.pdf, says “Kentucky Bluegrass will withstand drought by becoming dormant. If irrigation is begun in a drought, continue to water during the drought period. Apply water infrequently, but in sufficient amounts to wet the soil to six-inch depth.” Over watering encourages shallow turf grass root development and wastes water resources by not being absorbed by the soil and running off into the City of Johnston’s storm sewer collection system.
• Repair leaking sprinkler heads and ensure that each head is properly directing its spray onto the turf and landscape.
• When possible, avoid laying sod during July and the first three weeks of August. These typically are the hottest months and weeks of the year. New sod has no established root system and therefore requires daily watering during hot summer days to keep it alive. Beginning the last week in August and on through the fall is the best time for laying sod. Grass seed is also best used during this late summer, fall time period.