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  City of Chanhassen
  7700 Market Blvd
  PO Box 147
  Chanhassen MN
  55317
  952-227-1100
  Fax: 952-227-1110

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Water Wise Program

2010 Water Wise Program

To promote water conservation and stewardship, the City of Chanhassen is offering the following free program:

  • The Water Wise Water Conservation Program: Residents, homeowners associations, and neighborhoods are encouraged to register for this year's water conservation program. Participants will be given a conservation Starter Pack, monthly email tips and information and be eligible to win prizes throughout the contest period. Whether you already know about water conservation techniques or need to learn the 'why's' and 'how's' of it, enrolling in the program will give you opportunities to receive great promotional items from our community, coupons for local businesses, and factual information from the city about your water usage. You can save money and water this year by signing up today. You decide how much water to conserve and how to do it. The city will provide you with information so that you can make simple choices that make a difference. Join the program now to start saving.

The deadline to register for the Water Wise Water Conservation Program is May 28, 2010. Email Jill Sinclair with your full name and address to sign up.

2009 Water Wise Program

2009 WaterWise Conservation Program Weekly Newsletters: If you would like to sign up for the weekly WaterWise Program email, please contact Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist at 952-227-1133 or by email at jsinclair@ci.chanhassen.mn.us

2008 Water Wise Program

The top conserving household reduced their water usage by 64% over the summer and claimed the top spot. Their biggest source of reduction was their lawn irrigation which they discontinued over the summer. Along with shorter showers and water-saving appliances, they saved 78,000 gallons of water.

2008 WaterWise Irrigation Audit Survey

The survey below refers to the irrigation audits that were performed by Irrigation Consultants & Control, Inc., contracted by the City of Chanhassen as part of the 2008 WaterWise Program. If you participated in this program in 2008, please fill out this survey, answering all questions as honestly and accurately as possible. A link is provided at the end of the survey to email it back to the City. Thank you for your cooperation!

Click HERE to take this survey.

If you have any questions, please contact Terry Jeffery, Water Resources Coordinator, at 952-227-1168 or email him at tjeffery@ci.chanhassen.mn.us.

Tips on How You Can Be Water Wise

In Your Home:

  • Keep daily showers to 5 minutes or less. A typical shower uses 5 gallons of water per minute. Install a water-efficient shower head which can feel the same as a regular shower head but can save up to 750 gallons per month.

  • Place a water-filled plastic bottle or other displacement device in your toilet tank. This will reduce the amount of water required to flush by 1-2 gallons per flush. A typical toilet uses 6 gallons per flush. When installing a new toilet, consider a small-capacity model. These are usually less expensive and reduce water usage significantly.

  • Install aerators on all of your faucets that have a flow rate of 2.75 or more. The rate of flow is imprinted on the side.

  • Shut off bathroom faucets while washing hands, brushing teeth, and shaving. These activities typically use 2-5 gallons of water with the faucet running. By shutting off the water while scrubbing, brushing, etc., you can save 1-2 gallons of water per use.

  • Fill the kitchen sink partially full and wash and rinse pans or dishes in the sink instead of using a running faucet. This will save approximately 15 gallons of water per use.

  • Do only full loads of laundry or dishes when using your washing machine or automatic dishwasher. An automatic dishwasher uses 15 gallons of water per cycle, while a typical top-loading washing machine uses 40-60 gallons of water per cycle. You can save up to 1,000 gallons per month.

  • Check your toilet, faucets, and other fixtures for leaks. A slow drip wastes 15 to 20 gallons of water a day; a leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons. Check for leaks in your toilet by shutting off the water to your toilet and marking the water level in the tank. If the water level goes down, the toilet flap is most likely leaking. You may also get a dye kit from your local hardware store, request one for free from the city, or use food coloring. Put the dye in your toilet tank over night. If the colored water is in your toilet bowl the next day, your toilet is leaking.

  • Purchase Energy Star and Water Sense rated appliances and fixtures. These products can save you significant amounts of water and money. Go to www.epa.gov/watersense for product listings.
Around the Yard:
  • Avoid watering between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Watering during the warmest part of the day, when the sun is the strongest, is the worst time to water due to the high rate of evaporation. Never water on a windy day

  • Don't over-water. Only give your grass and plants the amount of moisture they need. Most lawns only need 1 inch of water or rain a week, depending on grass and soil type, as well as amount of shade. Use a rain sensor on your irrigation system to avoid watering when unnecessary. Over-watering can actually harm your grass and plants, as this can cause disease, spread weeds, and encourage the development of a shallow root system.

    • To find out how long or how much you need to water your lawn, place a tuna or small cat food can on your lawn while watering. When the can is filled, you've given your lawn the right amount of water.

  • Adjust your irrigation system to the season. Don't allow your system to run at 100% from April to October. Click HERE for recommendations for Chanhassen irrigation systems.

  • Raise your lawn mower up an inch or two. Allowing your grass to grow to 2-3 inches requires less watering and also encourages a deeper root system. Lawns and plants with deep root systems are more tolerant of environmental stress such as drought and cold.

  • Build healthy soil. Healthy soil reduces the amount of watering needed for lawns and plants. Make sure there is at least 4-6 inches of topsoil before laying sod or planting grass. Use compost or organic fertilizer to add the organic matter and nutrients grass and plants need, and have your soil tested beforehand. Remember, too much fertilizer can harm lawns and plants, as well as surface water.

  • Mulch, mulch, & more mulch! Mulching around trees, perennials, and in your garden not only cuts down on mowing, but also keeps plants hydrated, therefore reducing the amount of watering needed. Mulching grass clippings back into your lawn also creates a healthier lawn that requires less fertilizer.

  • Create or preserve native and low-maintenance landscaping features throughout your yard. Install a raingarden, prairie plot, grove of trees and shrubs, garden with low-maintenance, hardy perennials, or add fescue grass species to your lawn. Native plants and fescue lawns are hardier because they are adapted to our climate and have a deeper root system, thus reducing the amount of water, fertilizer, and time spent mowing and maintaining that is required with traditional landscaping.

    Informational Links on Water Wise Landscaping:

  • Install a rain barrel. Rain barrels collect stormwater off of roofs or other surfaces and store it for future use, such as watering your lawn and garden. By using a rain barrel, you can reduce your household water use and provide your plants with untreated water.

    • For instructions on how to make your own rain barrel, click HERE.
Learning Opportunities

Click HERE to view a list of Water Wise learning opportunities.
 
 
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