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1. Who do I contact about leaks or water waste?

The simplest method is to use the online reporting form listed below. For significant leaks creating a health and public safety concern, please call 838-1000. Leaks & Water Waste Reporting Form...

2. How long should I water my lawn?

Done correctly, irrigating lawns only three days a week in Windsor is both water saving and beneficial for growing more deeply rooted, heat tolerant turf grass. For fixed spray pop-up sprinklers, two shorter applications (4 – 7 min), applied about an hour apart, gets the water deeper into the root zone without runoff. As an example, to run sprinklers 36 minutes per week:

Station run time – 1st Start Time – 2nd Start Time – Days
6 minutes – 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. – M, W, F

Sprinkler run times will need to be longer for single and multi-stream rotor type sprinklers that apply water at a slower rate than standard fixed spray pop-ups. However, the approach is the same. The clay based soils found throughout Windsor help retain the water that has penetrated deeper into the root zone, eliminating the need for more frequent irrigation, and providing the conditions needed for lawns to grow longer, healthier roots.
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3. When is the best time of day to water my lawn?

If possible, you should schedule your irrigation early enough in the morning to be finished before sunrise. This is the time of day when there is the least amount of wind and the least amount of water loss due to evaporation.

4. How can I tell if I have a leak?

Your water meter's low flow indicator can be used to detect whether you have a leak or not. More...

5. A lot of water gets wasted while waiting for the hot water to arrive at my upstairs bathroom faucet and shower. Is there anything I can do?

You can install an on-demand recirculation pump, which speeds up the delivery of hot water to the fixture. The water that normally goes down the drain as you wait is returned to the water heater by using the cold water line as a return loop. Once the hot water arrives, water begins to flow out of the fixture and the pump shuts off automatically. More...

6. How can I get information about landscape plants that use little or no water?

The Water Use Classification of Landscape Species(WUCOLS), a publication of UC Cooperative Extension, is a comprehensive list of plants classified by their water requirements. The Sonoma County Master Gardeners website (http://groups.ucanr.org/sonomamg/) also maintains a list of plants well suited to our climate. Go to WUCOLS link...

7. What are the restrictions for participating in the Town's Water Efficient Landscape rebate program?

You need to call 547-1909 and schedule a free pre-inspection visit / water use assessment before starting work on your project. Visit our rebates page for more information.