03/03/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Woodbury provided 200 rain sensors in at no charge to single - family residential property owners who wished to install them. The property owner was responsible for the installation and any associated costs. This program is funded by the City of Woodbury and the South Washington Watershed District. A program of this nature would satisfy conservation goals for the City of Lino Lakes. A rain sensor is operated by low output radio connection between the device, which is typically mounted on a part of the house that directly receives rainfall (such as the edge of a rain gutter), and a radio receiver, which is mounted with the irrigation controller. A disc in the sensor swells up when it gets wet and temporarily causes the irrigation system to be inoperable. The disc in the rain sensor dries out at approximately the same rate as the soil, so the system becomes operational again once the rain has stopped and the soil has returned to normal moisture. c. Provide public education to consumers regarding information on how to reduce water usage indoors and outdoors. 50% of water consumed by a household is used outdoors. The remaining 50% is used indoors and of that 75% is consumed in the bathroom. - A Water conservation section in the Lino Lakes Quarterly Newsletter and at www.ci.lino - lakes.mn.us, providing tips and information on water conservation. See attached Metropolitan Council web page example. - Attachments and flyers with water bills can also be used to provide information on how to use water efficiently. 2. Total Per Capita Demand a. Prepare a time of day lawn watering ordinances that restricts lawn watering during the daytime hours of 10:OOam to 6:OOpm. Attached is a copy of the draft ordinance. A public education program consisting of detailed information on the City website, the quarterly newsletter and a public notice will coincide with the implementation of this ordinance. This ordinance will require additional resources for enforcement. The penalties for violation of the ordinance will be $25 on a first offense and $50 for any subsequent violations in a year. Time of day lawn watering ordinances that restrict lawn watering during midday hours can lower water usage and reduce peak demands. Early morning is the best time to water for a healthy lawn. Public information programs and local ordinances that encourage lawn watering before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. can improve lawn watering efficiencies by reducing water lost to evaporation and wind drift. Wind and evaporation during midday hours can remove up to 65% of sprinkling water meant for your lawn. 2