Amid concerns over water scarcity, the City of Grand Prairie appeals to the community to embrace conservation measures through its "Water Smart" campaign this August. Residents are advised to follow specific guidelines for sprinkler usage to help safeguard this essential resource. According to the city's official website, the guidelines include refraining from using landscape and lawn sprinklers between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily. Additionally, there is a complete ban on such sprinkler use on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Properties with even-numbered addresses are permitted to use sprinklers only on Mondays and Thursdays, while odd-numbered addresses may do so on Tuesdays and Fridays, according to the City of Grand Prairie, Texas.
To enforce these measures, the city specifies that a constant stream of water should not be allowed to flow into the street while watering gardens, and using sprinklers during rainfall is prohibited. Compliance is further ensured through a requirement for rain sensors on new sprinkler systems. Hand watering and the use of soaker hoses remain allowable, so long as they are not used within the restricted midday hours.
Water preservation extends beyond mere lawn care, as the city points out, stressing the importance of addressing swimming pool evaporation and household leaks. The National Pool Industry Research Center has found that using a pool cover can decrease evaporation by 95%. Grand Prairie echoes this research, recommending pool covers as a measure that can lead to significant water conservation.
Furthermore, a seemingly insignificant toilet leak can result in wastage of up to 200 gallons of water daily. To combat this, residents are suggested to add food coloring to their toilet tanks and wait 30 minutes to see if the color seeps into the bowl, indicating a leak. The city also advises against flushing so-called "flushable" wipes, instead asking people to dispose of them in the trash to avoid blockages in the wastewater lines.
