San Antonio Water System (SAWS) Reports: Stage One Water Restrictions? No problem.

As you've likely heard by now, Stage One watering rules are in effect. While some may consider drought restrictions to be a bad thing, you – our loyal subscribers – know it simply means making a few adjustments to your watering schedule.

The advice in this newsletter is designed to help you maintain a landscape that weathers dry conditions and restrictions, so there's no need to despair.

During Stage One restrictions:

• Watering your lawn with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler is allowed once a week on your assigned day, before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. (No drastic change here since our watering recommendations are to water your lawn only as needed and never more than once a week.)
• You're encouraged to reduce your overall water consumption by targeting outdoor irrigation more precisely. This is easily accomplished by watering with a hand-held hose, watering can, and/or soaker hose (these methods are allowed any time, on any day). The same applies to drip irrigation, just be sure to program it to run only as needed.
• Water features in your landscape must be turned off, unless they use 100 percent non-potable water.

Get a detailed rundown of Stage One rules or a printable flyer (pdf) at www.saws.org. Of course, following the advice in this newsletter will help your landscape weather the dry spell.

Juan Soulas is a conservation consultant for San Antonio Water System.