Stage Two Water Restrictions Looming for San Antonio...

The following is an email we received this morning from the Conservation Project Coordinator at SAWS...

"Stage 2 will probably be declared on Monday, April 30^th .  Please contact your customers and arrange to change their controllers if they have not already done so.  Stage 3 is a definite possibility later this summer.  Again, permitted hours for Stage 2 are 3 am – 8 am and 8 pm – 10 pm, one day a week.

Also, there has been some confusion on the New Landscape Variances.  Variances are not automatic.  They are given to newly built houses and commercial buildings, major renovations resulting from unforeseen events like utility construction or re-grading due to soil slippage.  Drought is not considered unforeseen.  They are not necessarily given to vast expanses of 100% turf replacement or to small beds or sections of turf (“Beautification landscape projects do not qualify for a variance...Replacing or adding plants or turf to existing, established landscapes is highly discouraged and generally will not be granted a variance unless extenuating circumstances exist..”). 

We want to take this opportunity to encourage you to speak to your customers on the benefit of not replacing turf and rather going to expanded beds or hardscape.  These will receive more favorable attention for variances and are options less likely to die once again during this continuing drought.  We also want to encourage a dialogue with you on ways we can get the message out on not replacing 100% turf, i.e. more media information, expanded rebates, etc.  We are looking for any suggestion right now.

Contact me if you have any questions or comments."

Mark A. Peterson

Project Coordinator – Conservation

SAWS

Lights Out

Occasionally customers experience lighting outages with their landscape lighting and it usually can be fixed with a push of a button.  The following are a few suggestions to use in the event you experience a lighting outage. 

 1.      Is it wet outside?  If it has rained or your sprinklers have been on, this can trip the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets.  For your safety, GFCIs are designed to trip at 100% humidity or wetter.  Wait until the conditions have dried up and then reset the GCFI outlets.

a.      To reset the outlets, first check the outlet where the lights are plugged in.   If it is a GFCI outlet it will have two buttons in the middle, the one on top is red and it is the reset button.  If the button is popped out, press it down to reset it. 

b.      If this didn’t fix the problem or if the outlet where they lights are plugged in is not a GFCI outlet, you need to check for other GFCI outlets in your home.  GFCI outlets can usually be found in wet areas of your home such as the kitchen, bathrooms, garage and outside.  If a GFCI outlet has been tripped somewhere else in your home, it can be affecting the lights (even if they aren’t plugged directly into the outlet where the GFCI is tripped).  So look for other GFCI outlets in your home and if the red button has popped up, reset it by pressing it down.

c.       If you have found GFCI outlets that have been tripped but they won’t reset when pressed, you will need to continue to step #2 below.  Otherwise, proceed to step #3.

2.      Locate your circuit breaker box, most often located in a garage.   Look at the individual breaker and reset any that have been been tripped.  You can tell if the breaker has been tripped because it will be in the middle.  To reset it you need to flip it to the off side and then over to the on side.  Once you have reset the breakers, go back to step #1 and reset the GFCI outlets. 

               a.      If you find that no breaker has been tripped in the circuit box but you are still unable to reset your GFCI outlets, it is likely that the receptacle will need to be replaced.

3.      The lights are likely to be on a timer.  If you have experienced a tripped GFCI or breaker than your timer may need to be reset with the correct time.  Please set the correct the time and check the on/off settings.   Check the lights again when the timer is in the “on” program.

  If you have tried all the steps above and are still having problems, please call us at 210-657-7737   and we will be happy to assist you.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Preferred will busy volunteering at the following events and we'd love for you to join us! 

On schedule this weekend:

 Leon Springs Night – We will be grilling Friday night to support the Leon Springs Business Association

Fiesta Oyster Bake – we will be out volunteering on Friday and Saturday to support St. Mary’s University

 

Wild West Day at Enchanted Springs  - We will be grilling on Saturday with our partner sponsor Kiolbassa to support Boerne Rotary Club

Valero Texas Open – we are sponsoring and will be volunteering throughout this weekend's event

Looking for a new job?

Preferred is currently hiring for the following postions - please let contact us an 210-657-7737 if you are interested!

Account Service Representative:

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/bus/2952061352.html

Landscape Foreman and Laborer:

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/lab/2960911236.html

Stage One Water Rules Reinstated for San Antonio

Although the region enjoyed a mild and wet winter, aquifer levels never fully recovered and once again San Antonio’s J-17 Edwards monitoring well has dropped to 659.7 feet. With this news, San Antonio’s City Manager Sheryl Sculley announced that Stage One demand management rules are in effect.

“Pursuant to City Ordinance, the city manager must declare Stage One,” said San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley. “Based upon the recommendation and in consultation with SAWS, Stage One is in effect.”

“San Antonians are accustomed to the impacts of our semi-arid climate,” added Sculley. “We appreciate their support of water conservation while the region awaits the next rainfall.”

Stage One of the city’s drought plan is triggered when the official daily level of the Edwards Aquifer drops to 660 feet or below at the J-17 monitoring well. According to the city’s Aquifer Management Plan ordinance, to end Stage One the level must return and stay above 660 feet for 30 days.

“Thanks to the water smart ways of San Antonians, our city was able to weather the drought last year,” said SAWS President/CEO Robert R. Puente. “It’s reassuring to know that we’re prepared and have the methods and resources ready, even during dry weather.”

“While we have an ample supply of water from the Edwards and other sources, state law requires us to cut back on pumping when the Edwards Aquifer reaches certain levels,” continued Puente. “Our neighbors around the Edwards region are subject to the same law, so our actions are a cooperative effort.”

Under Stage One, outdoor watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system is allowed only before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. one day per week, as determined by the last number of your street address:

• 0 or 1 – Monday
• 2 or 3 – Tuesday
• 4 or 5 – Wednesday
• 6 or 7 – Thursday
• 8 or 9 – Friday

Watering days begin and end at midnight; overnight watering is not allowed. Water waste, such as water running down the street, is prohibited year-round. However, watering with a handheld hose, soaker hose, or drip irrigation is still allowed any day, any time.

Source: http://www.saws.org/latest_news/NewsDrill.cfm?news_id=829

Mix It Up

Have you ever wanted to grow your own herbs but didn't want to mess with a whole garden?  Herbs make a great addition to your container gardens - it gives it a great focal point and provides fresh herbs.

Mixing ornamentals and herbs can create an eye-catching arrangement with the flowers hiding the leggy stems of overgrown herbs and adding color to the arrangement. 

What herbs work the best for container gardening?  I think rosemary looks great in a pot with some low ornamentals in front of it.  Oregano works well in the front of a pot with its tiny leaves.  The foliage of dill adds great texture to a pot.  But the very best herbs to use would be the herbs you think you'd use the most in the kitchen!

Create your own Bluebonnet patch!

Bluebonnets and other wildflowers are creating a beautiful spring this year in South Texas.   Many say this is one of the best years for wildflowers so make sure you take the time to tour some country roads and enjoy the view!

 Would you like your very own patch of bluebonnets?   With a little patience, you can create your very own bluebonnet patch. 






Here are a few planting tips:

1.  Bluebonnet seeds should be planted in the fall - September and October are the best months to plant.

2.  Plant in well drained soil and in a location that receives a lot of sun.

3.  Seeds should be raked into the soil or planted ~ 1/8" in the soil. 

4.  Bluebonnet seeds have a hard protective coating that can delay germination.  Often growers will scarify the seeds to speed up the process by nicking them or using sandpaper on them.

5.  Plant about 8-10 seeds per sq ft of area you are trying to cover.  Many seeds will not germinate the first year.  It may take several years to get a good patch of bluebonnets in your yard. 

6.  Water them sparingly - over watering is the top mistake gardeners make in trying to grow bluebonnets.  They do require water to germinate and grow but they don't like saturated soil.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who attended our Family Fiesta event last week.  The rain held off and it turned out to be a beautiful evening.  We were able to raise over $1,000 for Communities in Schools.