This spring the city was awarded a $21,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to implement a water conservation program for city residents.
Chanhassen's WaterWise, similar to programs that have been implemented from Pennsylvania to Arizona, is an amalgamation of rebates to consumers and contests that encourage conservation and classes for education. The program's goal is to reduce residential water usage by 5 percent this year.
Click on the attached sound files to hear one of the city's environmental commissioners, Ron Olsen, answer two questions about WaterWise.
The WaterWise conservation contest is for residents to compete for prizes by conserving the most water during the summer months. Residents may register for the contest until May 16. The grand prize is $50 in Chan Bucks and a City Pack that includes passes to local attractions and business. A mini-city pack will also be up for contention.
There's also the Energy Star rebate program and the landscape rebate program. In each case, residents will be given a rebate for purchasing or doing something that's considered water wise. A $50 rebate (or cost of item, whichever is less) will be given for water-saving, Water Sense qualified fixtures, and a $100 rebate (or cost of item, whichever is less) for Energy Star qualified dishwashers and washing machines. For more information on Energy Star and Water Sense, go to www.epa.gov/watersense [1] of www.energystar.gov [2].
To qualify for the landscape rebate program, residents and business owners can install landcaping features on their property that will reduce the amount of household water used for irrigation purposes. Residents must submit an application, landcape plan and list of all plants and materials to be used. Accepted applicants will be reimbursed $2 per quare foot of project area completed, up to $250. Eligible landscaping features may include raingardens, prairie plots, shoreline restorations, vegetated swales, streambank restorations, native plant beds, trees and shrubs.
Tips for conserving water
Keep daily showers to 5 minutes or less. A typical shower uses 5 gallons of water per minute.
Place a water-filled plastic bottle or other displacement device in your toilet tank. This will reduce the amount of water required to flush by 1-2 gallons per flush. A typical toilet uses 6 gallons per flush. When installing a new toilet, consider a small-capacity model. These are usually less expensive and reduce water usage significantly.
Shut off bathroom faucets while washing hands, brushing teeth, and shaving. These activities typically use 2-5 gallons of water with the faucet running. By shutting off the water while scrubbing, brushing, etc., you can save 1-2 gallons of water per use.
Fill the kitchen sink partially full and wash and rinse pans or dishes in the sink instead of using a running faucet. This will save approximately 15 gallons of water per use.
Do only full loads of laundry or dishes when using your washing machine or automatic dishwasher. An automatic dishwasher uses 15 gallons of water per cycle, while a typical top-loading washing machine uses 40-60 gallons of water per cycle.
Check your toilet, faucets, and other fixtures for leaks. A slow drip wastes 15 to 20 gallons of water a day; a leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons. Check for leaks in your toilet by shutting off the water to your toilet and marking the water level in the tank. If the water level goes down, the toilet flap is most likely leaking. You may also get a dye kit from your local hardware store, or use food coloring. Put the dye in your toilet tank over night. If the colored water is in your toilet bowl the next day, your toilet is leaking.
Around the Yard: Avoid watering between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Watering during the warmest part of the day, when the sun is the strongest, is the worst time to water due to the high rate of evaporation.
Don't over-water. Only give your grass and plants the amount of moisture they need. Most lawns only need 1 inch of water or rain a week, depending on grass and soil type, as well as amount of shade. Use a rain sensor on your irrigation system to avoid watering when unnecessary. Over-watering can actually harm your grass and plants, as this can cause disease, spread weeds, and encourage the development of a shallow root system. To find out how long or how much you need to water your lawn, place a tuna or small cat food can on your lawn while watering. When the can is filled, you've given your lawn the right amount of water.
Raise your lawn mower up an inch or two. Allowing your grass to grow to 2-3 inches requires less watering and also encourages a deeper root system. Lawns and plants with deep root systems are more tolerant of environmental stress such as drought and cold.
Build healthy soil. Healthy soil reduces the amount of watering needed for lawns and plants. Make sure there is at least 4-6 inches of topsoil before laying sod or planting grass. Use compost or organic fertilizer to add the organic matter and nutrients grass and plants need, and have your soil tested beforehand. Remember, too much fertilizer can harm lawns and plants, as well as surface water.
Mulch, mulch, & more mulch! Mulching around trees, perennials, and in your garden not only cuts down on mowing, but also keeps plants hydrated, therefore reducing the amount of watering needed. Mulching grass clippings back into your lawn also creates a healthier lawn that requires less fertilizer.
Create or preserve native and low-maintenance landscaping features throughout your yard. Install a raingarden, prairie plot, grove of trees and shrubs, garden with low-maintenance, hardy perennials, or add fescue grass species to your lawn. Native plants and fescue lawns are hardier because they are adapted to our climate and have a deeper root system, thus reducing the amount of water, fertilizer, and time spent mowing and maintaining that is required with traditional landscaping.
More tips on how you can be “water wise” can be found at www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us [4]
Source: City of Chanhassen
For more information, go to the city's Web site, www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us [5], or read this week's edition of the newspaper. WaterWise is on the City Council's agenda for discussion at the work session meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 12.