Conserveh2o News - Fall 2016

Have you taken the #14Gallons challenge?

September is National Preparedness month, and this year the Consortium is teaming up with Oregon Public Broadcasting to bring back the #14Gallons challenge.

While there are a lot of things that you can do to prepare for emergencies one of the most important things that you can do to is to have an emergency supply of water. This is because people can survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water. So, water is a good place to start your preparedness efforts.

You may be familiar with the recommendation to have a three-day supply of food and water. But, here in the Pacific Northwest, the general rule is to have one gallon of water per person per day stored in your home to last you 14 days. And, you may need more than that if you have pets or people with special needs.

Start your preparedness efforts this September by participating in the #14Gallons Challenge. Here's how:

Obtain 14 gallons of water per person for your entire household. (If you already have an adequate emergency supply of water, skip to step two!)
Take a creative photo with your emergency water supply.
Post your photo online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with the hashtag #14gallons, and challenge three of your friends to do the same.

For more information on the types of containers to use, where to store your water, and how often to change out your water, visit www.regionalh2o.org .

It may be the end of this year's watering season

This past weekend's rainy weather may signify the end of this year's watering season. Although we may see some sunny days in the coming month, it looks like more significant rainy weather is predicted throughout the month of September and into early October. If this is the case, then gardeners across the greater Portland area will be able to put down their hoses and turn off their irrigation systems as we slip into fall.

Regardless of the weather, many plants naturally need less water during the fall and winter because they go dormant until spring. That said, gardens and landscapes may need some water - especially new plantings, vegetables, and plants located in pots or under eaves or trees - until it starts raining on a regular basis.

Interested in finding out when you should start watering next spring or summer? Let us take the guesswork out of it for you. Sign up to receive our Weekly Watering Number.

Regional Water Providers Consortium

The Regional Water Providers Consortium serves as a collaborative and coordinating organization to improve the planning and management of municipal water supplies in the Portland metro region. Contact us.

Waterwise Tips for Fall

Add waterwise plants to your garden now so they can use this autumn's rainfall to start getting established. Remember to regularly water them until it starts regularly raining!

Compost your autumn leaves and other garden debris so you will have homemade mulch to add to your garden come spring.

Check to see that your sprinkler system is functioning correctly. Make sure that sprinkler heads aren't blocked and are correctly watering your plants. Look for damp locations as these might indicate a leak or broken line that will have to be fixed.

Winterize your automatic sprinkler system, spigots and outdoor pipes when you are finished watering for the season.
You can do this by emptying your sprinkler system of water and turning it completely off (this includes drip systems too!)

You also may want to set up an appointment with your water provider to get your backflow checked. (Did you know this is required annually by law?)

Similarly, when you put your hoses away for the season make sure to insulate spigots and any exposed outdoor pipes.

Visit conserveh2o.org for more water conservation tips.

Fall is a great time to give your lawn a little TLC

It seems a little counter intuitive, but now is a great time to give your lawn a little pick me up for next spring and summer. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

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