In April the Dallas City Council issued a new set of "guidelines" and "regulations" for landscape watering in Dallas during the coming summer months. Note that this applies only to the City of Dallas, not to any of the independent water-wasteful suburbs like Plano and Richardson. For the moment, these regulations deal only with landscape watering and nothing else. It's a small step, I suppose, but I would like to have seen more comprehensive measures.

Landscape watering, particularly around office-buildings, can only be done during certain "low-use periods" after the end of the business day, or during the night; and running a water-sprinkling system during a rainstorm is a misdemeanor offense. For violation of either regulation, one can be fined several hundred dollars, depending upon the exact circumstance and the number of previous offenses. And I think that there is a provision for shutting off the water of any residence or business that is caught continually violating either regulation. It will be up to the police, as they patrol the streets, to "ticket" any business or residence that they notice in violation of the law.

If you recall, Mr. Mike Huddleston, President, Sulphur River Basin Authority, had the following remarks to make to the Texas Observer last November:

<< Huddleston had little patience for talk of irresponsible water use in Dallas. "If you listen to the radical environmentalists, they think everything can be done by laws," he said. "For crying out loud ­ they want to tell people they can't water their grass or have swimming pools?" He also scoffed at the numbers that have turned out in opposition at recent meetings. "You have a 100-square-mile reservoir planned and all you can muster is 35 or 50 people against it?" he said. (Asked how many people would be affected by the project, he said simply, "I don't know.") >>

At any rate, on 24 May 2002 the following Letter-to-the-Editor was published in The Dallas Morning News regarding these regulations. This letter was written by P.M. Quested of Dallas.

SPRINKLER LAW EXTREME

We all received a flier regarding sprinkler system rain sensors and freeze gauges from the city of Dallas, telling us we are required to have these "low cost" devices installed. The bid I got was a minimum of $200, and I guess "low cost" is according to the size of your pocketbook. I emailed the City Council to express my concern, and they had someone from code enforcement call.

I asked will they go door-to-door to see who has a sprinkler, and cite those who have not purchased the guages. No. They will drive down the street during a freeze, and if they observe a sprinkler on, they will issue a citation to the owner. Since I turn my system off during the winter, why waste $200 on a gauge for a sprinkler that is not on? Why not just tell us to keep the system turned off during a freeze or during rain? Why threaten a $250 to $2,000 fine, and scare people into buying the contraption? Duh! Did the sprinkler company association get to someone at City Hall?

Please revisit this ordinance, and revise it soon.

End Quote. Why "threaten" people? Probably because nobody would give a damn about it if they didn't feel "threatened" a little bit. (Duh!)

As the summer goes on, if I see anymore articles about these new regulations, I'll add them here. So those who are interested in this might check back periodically for new information.

On May 28, I wrote the above. Three days later on May 31, in the "House & Garden" section of The Dallas Morning News appeared a lengthy article on these new water restrictions, which were going into effect the following day, 1 June 2002.

DON'T BE A DRIP
Water Restrictions Start Tomorrow -- And That Doesn't Have To Crimp Your Style
By Elise Anthony, Assistant Editor

Good news if you boil with anger when sprinkler systems seep water onto the street or broken sprinkler heads send up geysers: It could cost offenders. Bad news if you own that malfunctioning sprinkler: After the first warning, the fines could cost $250, and quickly rise to $2,000.

Water restrictions start Saturday for Dallas residents, and if you're not prepared, the new rules could take an adjustment -- for you and the garden. Lest you worry about the "water police" patrolling your thirsty lawn, here's a look at the rules and how to grow a great garden with less water.

Soak It In

If you've been properly watering all along, the largest changes -- daytime restrictions and penalties for runoff -- probably won't affect you much. Dallas is among several metropolitan Texas cities that enforce watering restrictions. San Antonio and El Paso have ordinances that control landscape irrigation year-round; other cities, including Austin, Irving, Arlington and Mesquite, ask residents to voluntarily comply with set watering schedules.

Actually watering restrictions might benefit the garden. "This was not intended to create a weed farm -- there are things people can do to maintain healthy, beautiful landscapes," says Terrace Stewart, director of Dallas Water Utilities. And while he would like homeowners to use plants that require less water than others ("We're not talking about rocks and cactus," he says), he wants to prevent water waste.

One of the new restrictions -- no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from June 1 through Sept. 30 -- was designed for that reason, he says. If you water from "10 a.m. to 6 p.m., up to 60 percent of it evaporates," Mr. Stewart says, "so you're just setting yourself up for a high water bill and you're not watering effectively, and that's why some people have to water every day."

And you may be harming the garden. Dallas County extension horticulture agent Stacy Reese of Texas Cooperative Extension has warned for years that overwatering is the No. 1 killer of plants. "I have yet to find an irrigation system that I have audited that wasn't overwatering the landscape and wasting water," he says. "Everybody tries to put watering on a time clock, and you shouldn't do that. Water only as needed."

Trouble is, the symptoms of overwatering are identical to underwatering -- wilting, leaf drop, leaf burn and discoloration -- so anxious gardeners exacerbate the problem by watering more. "You need to look at the root system to tell if plants have been overwatered," Mr. Reese says. A healthy plant will have a solid, firm, white root system. If it's overwatered, the roots will be dark brown to black and the roots' surface can be pulled off.

Moving Violations

The new requirements, most of which take effect Saturday, will be enforced by code-compliance officers, not the police. After a first warning, the fine starts at $250 and then goes to $500, $1,000 and $2,000. (If you're the one who seethes over water waste, you can call the city services line at 311 to report a problem.)

But what if a strong wind blows a mist from your sprinkler system onto the sidewalk? Rest easy, Mr. Stewart says. The officers are looking for chronic water wasters and are trained to recognize the effects of wind, landscape slope and sudden showers. "We're looking for a situation such as sheet flow from your property -- that is, when your yard is not accepting any more water and there's a steady , consistent flow of water into the sewer," he says.

Violations also include water "ponding" at a 1/4-inch depth or greater, runoff from misaligned sprinkler heads and broken or missing sprinkler heads. Again, according to enforcement guidelines, officers will consider whether the situation just occurred or whether it is a chronic problem. You may have heard that retrofitting is in order for older systems. Rain/freeze sensors are now required on all new systems and must be installed on older ones by 2005. (Do-it-yourself kits start at $45.)

Still worried about watering foundations, newly established beds or otherwise thirsty plants? It's OK to water with a soaker hose or hand-held hose at any time. (But sprinkler hoses can't be used between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.)

Timeout

So how do you know when to water? Experts say to avoid preset sprinkler schedules and habitual watering and use a water-and-wait approach. A glance at plants may not be too helpful: "During the middle of the day, a lot of plants will look wilted, but if you look at them later, they look fine. It's their way of coping with heat stress," says Lynda Strain, a Plano landscape designer.

The clay soils in much of North Central Texas can hold moisture for extended periods, which is why watering on a schedule can suffocate plants as excess water deprives roots of oxygen. Frequent, light watering promotes shallow root systems on plants, which then require daily watering to look good and survive because the roots aren't deep enough to take advantage of moisture deeper in the soil. The surface of clay soil will almost always feel dry and appear crusted, so it's important to check to a depth of 2 to 6 inches -- at that depth, if soil is still moist like a wrung-out sponge, leave it alone.

For best results, check moisture by probing a very sophisticated instrument about 2 inches into the soil. This tool, not found in any garden center, is ... your finger. Seriously, it's the best method, but if you're squeamish, use a soil moisture meter.

["Squeamish"?! If a "gardener" is too "squeamish" about sticking his/her finger 2 inches down into the soil, said "gardener" needs to find another "hobby"! R.]

Or, use the cake test: Probe a screwdriver deep into the soil -- if it has soil on it when you pull it out, the ground is moist enough. If not, it's time to water.

The lawn will provide clues, too: If the foliage curls, fades in color or doesn't recover from being walked on, it's time to water. "If you walk across your lawn and can see your path, then water the lawn," Mr. Stewart advises.

Change Your Routine

A change in watering routine needn't require a lowering of landscape expectations. "I watered my St. Augustine five times throughout last summer ... and I'll put my St. Augustine up against anybody's," Mr. Reese says. "I don't water a lot, but when I do, I do it properly."

When it really is time to water, water deeply. The water should penetrate the soil to a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches, and it could take hours. Because of the nature of clay soil, it may be necessary to water at intervals, stopping for an hour or so to prevent runoff as the soil absorbs the water.

[Thankfully, we here in Northeast Texas have "sandy loam" soil, not that awful black clay soil found around the DFW area. I was in my highschool band. Our uniforms demanded white shoes. We played McKinney in football. I'll never forget trying to march at half-time on the football field at McKinney during or just after a rainstorm. That black clay caked our white shoes, and by the time we got home after the football game and our shoes had had time to dry out, it was practically impossible to get all that dried, caked, black clay off those white shoes! SAVE OUR RICH SANDY-LOAM SOIL FROM FLOODING BY NEW RESERVOIRS! R.]

Use tuna cans as water gauges the first few times to get an idea of how long to water with a sprinkler system or hose-end sprinkler. Recent rainfall will affect soil conditions. As for timing, early morning is best because evaporation rates are low and the foliage has time to dry quickly, which prevents most fungal diseases. However, if you must water late at night, and you rarely do it, the plants probably will be OK.

For efficient watering, Mr. Reese advises switching to a drip-irrigation system for flower beds and vegetable gardens so that irrigation can be adjusted by need. Otherwise, "soaker hoses and drip irrigation are preferable if you don't have a sprinkler system -- it's efficient because you want to put water only where you need it," Ms. Strain says.

Xeriscaping

Water conservation has led to a growing landscaping trend -- xeriscaping, the use of native and adapted plants that require less water and fertilizer. "When you build the backbone [of a landscape] with natives and train yourself not to water frequently, you can get by with watering maybe once a month," Ms. Strain says. "I have an English-cottage look, and I have color year-round. "By using the soil you already have and using plants adapted to it, you will have a colorful, enjoyable garden."

The key to landscaping with natives is to understand their bloom season and play up foliage and berries as an accent. Visit native-plant demonstration sites several times a year and pick your favorites, she says. Growing native may seem adventurous, but "cutting down maintenance and cutting down water use increases enjoyment because the plants are taking care of themselves."

[Exactly! Good Advice! I have a lot of natives in my lush landscape. They are highly preferable to "exotic" plants that consume hours of watering and pampering. One cannot successfully grow tropical rain-forest vegetation in a semi-arid prairie environment like Dallas! That should be a "no-brainer" to most intelligent gardeners! R.]

If you're working natives into an existing landscape, "group plants with similar water needs -- if you have a dry plant, don't stick it near a thirstyone; one will live, the other will not," she says.

A couple of tips from pros:

* Mulch all bare soil with a 2-inch layer to conserve moisture.
* Cut the grass: Eliminate areas by installing walkways, perennial beds and ground covers.

"We need everybody's help," Mr. Stewart says. "Once you establish your lawn and garden, you won't have to water every day."

And if you think your lawn is worth the risk of a violation, heed Mr. Stewart's warning: "We will be out and about, and you never know when someone will go by your street.

Follow Your Hose

Haste makes waste. Although it is tempting to trot out the sprinkler every time plants look a little parched, not all watering accessories are equal.

And standing over plants with a hose is just as bad -- overhead watering can promote shallow root systems and waste water through evaporation and wind drift. Instead, choose watering implements carefully; look for features that reduce water loss. And consider this: Why pay for water when Mother Nature provides rainwater absolutely free?

Check out the following selection to save water -- and money -- and you won't feel like a drip.

Rainfall can really pay off -- especially as free irrigation water. The English Rain Barrel [pictured] stores 40 gallons of water and can be attached to a downspout. For double capacity, link two together. The lid detaches for dipping, and its 6-foot hose can be used with a watering can or be attached to a longer hose. A screen keeps out children, mosquitoes and debris. $90. 1-800-833-1412 or:

http://www.gardeners.com/

End of May 31 Articles. Then on Saturday, June 1, some reminders were published again in the Dallas News, as follows.

GOING WITH THE FLOW RESTRICTIONS

Beginning Saturday, Dallas residents will see a big shift in how Dallas Water Utilities -- North Texas' giant water supplies, with 171 billion gallons served in 1999-2000 -- polices the daily ritual of spritz and splash. From Saturday to Sept. 30 and continuing annually thereafter, a new city ordinance says:

* No watering will be allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at residences and businesses.
* It will be a violation to water a lawn or landscape in a manner that wastes water or causes runoff.
* Water should not fall on sidewalks, driveways or other areas that are not lawns or landscapes.
* Irrigation systems should not be operated with broken or missing sprinkler heads or one that is poorly maintained and leads to water waste.
* Lawns or landscapes should not be watered during any form of precipitation.

Violators will get a warning first, but after that, fines can be stiff -- from $250 to $2,000. The utility district already has implemented water-conserving initiatives:

* Since January, every new irrigation system must have sensors installed that shut off the water if it's raining or freezing. By Jan. 1, 2005, existing systems must be retrofitted with the devices.
* Since Oct. 1, bigger water users have been paying bigger rates. A residential customer who uses more than 15,000 gallons in a month jumps into the more expensive category, as does a commercial customer who uses more than 10,000 gallons a month and more than 1.4 times its annual average.

A rain gauge [pictured] mesaures the water output from Cheryl and Roger Sweell's lawn-irrigation system in East Dallas. Dallas Water Utilities recommends watering deeply and infrequently -- 1 to 1.5 inches every five to seven days.

For water conservation information go to http://www.dallascityhall.com/ or call 214-670-3155.

End of June 1 article. Let me mention something here that happened to me recently in Dallas. I went over to attend a "Happy Hour" for former Peace Corps Volunteers. Being so absorbed in this Northeast Texas opposition to the proposed new reservoirs and having seen with my eyes how scarce water is in some places of Africa and Asia, where running water is not available, I casually started talking about how people in Dallas squander so much water, compared to the rest of the State of Texas, not to mention the poor folks in Africa. People listened for a few moments, and then someone joined the group; and everybody had to say hello and so forth. This newcomer apologized if he had "interrupted" something. Then I said, "As I was saying ... " And I resumed my discussion. But not a minute later, a group of others joined the Happy Hour, interrupting me again. After all the hello's and how-are-you's, I tried to resume my "sermon" but I gave up. Then I complained to one woman, who used to live in Avery and knows many local people, and she sternly stated to me, "This is not the proper forum for such a discussion." And I thought to myself, "You people in Dallas just don't give a damn about conserving your water! SCREW YOU PEOPLE!" Roberto

The Dallas Morning News, By Staff Writer Dave Michaels, 8 July 2002

Water wastrels, consider yourselves on notice.

City of Dallas code inspectors have issued 104 notices of violation -- a warning that carries no fine -- but no citations after the first month of city-imposed water restrictions, officials said.

"This is the very first year we've had water restrictions," said Ade Williams, an assistant director of code compliance. "But when we talk to folks, they've usually complied."

Since June 1, when the city's water-conservation ordinance took effect, the city has received 574 complaints, officials said. Of those, 295 became open cases, meaning that hundreds of complaints were dismissed immediately because there was no violation or someone had made an honest mistake, such as using a defective sprinkler.

Wasting water, such as sprinkling the sidewalk, accounted for 90 percent of the infractions, code inspectors said. The new ordinance outlawed such water waste and introduced a ban on lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from June 1 to Sept. 1.

Code inspector Patricia Stark is responsible for enforcing the rules. She giggled at the name that has been applied to her job -- "water police".

"We don't have a radio in our car, and I wouldn't say, 'Code 3 in progress, watering at the Bank One,'" she said, joking. "It can be a little boring."

But, just like a traffic officer, Ms. Stark can issue tickets. A resident or business owner may be cited if they commit the same violation twice. The citation carries a fine of $250 to $2,000.

Many of the infractions Ms. Stark has recorded have been accidental, such as runoff from watering plants. That was the problem last month for Far East Dallas resident Natalie Gedney, who received a notice of violation because water trickled from her backyard garden into a city alley.

Ms. Gedney said she didn't know about the restrictions and was shocked to get a visit from Ms. Stark. "The alley is about 18 inches from the garden," Ms. Gedney said. "Evidently it was the runoff that got me."

Other violators have been more flagrant. One homeowner in East Dallas admitted to dousing his 10 acres with 63,000 gallons of water every day, Ms. Stark said. "With 10 acres, that's sprinkling all day long," she said.

[COMMENT: 63,000 GALLONS OF WATER EVERY DAY?! AI-YAI-YAI-YAI-YAI!!! THIS MAN WILL NEED THE WHOLE MARVIN NICHOLS RESERVOIR JUST FOR HIS LAWN! R.]

Ms. Stark and other code officials have also done a lot of explaining. Many residents are confused about what the ordinance forbids.

[Comment: Don't people read the newspaper anymore?! R.]

Car washing, hand-spraying plants and other flora and hosing down construction sites are permitted. Filling birdbaths and running fountains are fine, and children may run through sprinklers at any time.

Some customers, such as landscape companies and homeowners with new lawns, may be exempted from the restrictions. The city's park and recreation department received an exemption last month, Ms. Stark said.

City officials hope the ordinance helps change their customers' water habits. Water conservation is fairly new to Dallas, where residents and businesses have not always economized use. Austin has enforced water restrictions since 1984. Through various programs, the city has significantly decreased per-person consumption. The average Austin customer now uses about 170 gallons a day, while the Dallas norm is 235 gallons.

High use drives up water rates for the biggest consumers -- the city increased rates last year for those users by 32 percent -- and makes it more difficult for the city to negotiate future water sources.

"The state would be more reluctant to grant us those water rights if we don't do something about the high per-capita water usage in Dallas," said Randy Stalnaker, the city's manager of water conservation.

[Comment: Bingo! If this is true, then Dallas is supposed to demonstrate its ability to conserve before it will be granted new water rights from other places, presumably including Marvin Nichols. R.]

Water consumption decreased in June compared with the same month last year, Mr. Stalnaker said. But city officials are not heralding the success of the ordinance yet. "It has been such a wet year that people have just not had to water as much," he said.