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Talent folk asked to cut down water use By Wendy Siporen TALENT � Increased water usage and needed repairs to a water treatment plant have prompted the city to ask residents to curtail their water usage. "They�re using as much as we can make," said Public Works Director Tim Dedrick. "Demand is up this year. We don�t know why." The city�s two water treatment plants produce about 1.4 million gallons of water every day. Residents are using 200,000 to 300,000 more gallons each day than the same time last year. In order to meet that increased demand, Dedrick said, both water treatment plants are being operated 24 hours per day. It�s the first year that the city has had to operate the Wagner Creek treatment plant full-time. In order for the city to catch up with demand and shut down the Bear Creek treatment plant for several hours to replace a damaged part, residents are being asked to cut back on unnecessary water use. "What we�re just asking people to do is be aware of their water usage," said City Administrator Kelly Madding. "Curtailment is temporary. If it gets a little cooler and people really step up to the plate, hopefully it won�t last the rest of the summer." First-level curtailment means asking residents to water their lawns less frequently, use a bucket and turn off the hose when washing the family car and don�t use water to wash sidewalks, driveways or patios, said Madding. In previous years, residents have quickly responded to the city�s request for voluntary curtailment, said Dedrick. Because of improved water quality in the past two years, Dedrick said, many residents are under the false impression that the city has already hooked up to the Medford Water Commission. "The intertie is not yet built," he said. "We don�t have unlimited water." Both the Medford Water Commission and the city of Ashland say they are having an easier time meeting the summer water demands of their customers, but they promote conservation as a matter of policy. "If they�re going to pay for the water, they may as well get the most bang for their buck," said Laura Hodnett, conservation coordinator for the Medford Water Commission. Water usage can triple in the summer, mostly because people are watering their yards. Hodnett said the commission asks residents not to sprinkle so much so that the water runs off and water early in the morning to minimize evaporation. The city of Ashland is aiming to reduce summer water consumption by 10 percent through voluntary conservation efforts. To achieve this, the city is offering residents a free irrigation audit. This service includes information about how your system works, how long and how often you should water and planting options for your yard. For more information, call Robbin Pearce at 552-2062. A few basic pointers on conserving water The following tips for conserving water are suggested by the Medford Water Commission and the city of Talent: Watering early in the morning helps get water to the roots of landscape plants before it evaporates. It also enables plants to dry off as the day warms up, keeping plant diseases from taking hold. If you have clay soil, split watering into two or more cycles with a half-hour break in-between. This gives the water time to soak into the soil rather than running off. Watering deeply, but less frequently, will encourage roots to reach down for water, resulting in healthy plants that are more resistant to hot, dry periods. Adding organic mulches around shrubs will reduce evaporation and will insulate roots. Replace unused grass areas with shrubs or ground covers that need less water. As the weather changes throughout the summer, adjust the amount of water you apply. Call the Medford Water Commission�s lawn watering infoline at 857-0904 for specific information about how much water to give your grass based on current weather conditions. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or shaving. Turn it on again to rinse. A faucet left running sends three to five gallons per minute down the drain. Keep a jug of water in the refrigerator for drinking so you don�t need to let the faucet run while waiting for the water to get colder. For more indoor water conservation tips, stop by the Talent City Hall, 204 East Main Street. Ashland residents may call 552-2062 for a free irrigation audit. This service can help you get a handle on how your system works, how long and how often you should water and planting options for your yard. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA