Water Wednesdays - Water Conservation Tips
Each week, Water Wednesdays shares practical tips, seasonal guidance, and water-wise ideas to help residents make informed choices at home and in their yards. These are not requirements, but recommended best practices developed with the expertise of our Public Works Department.
Our goal is simple: Empower our community with knowledge that makes water conservation easier, more effective, and part of everyday life in Tooele City.
When to Start Watering in Spring
In Tooele, spring weather can change quickly-warm one week and snow the next. With those fluctuations, it can feel like lawns need water sooner than they actually do.
But here's the key message this week: if you can wait, wait.
Most established lawns don't need consistent water until temperatures are steadily warm (around 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) over time-not just during short warm spells. Early-season "stress" is often temporary and weather-related, not a true need for irrigation.
As a general guideline, many years Mother's Day is a good target for starting sprinklers, since mid-May is typically when rainfall becomes less frequent and temperatures rise. In lower water years, it's even more important to start irrigating decorate landscaping alter than normal-not earlier.
Before turning on your sprinkler system, consider:
- Waiting through warm/cool cycles to see if conditions stabilize
- Checking soil moisture instead of grass color alone
- Remembering precipitation and cool nights still add moisture
When you do begin watering, start conservatively:
- Check your system: Make sure sprinklers are water plants—not rocks, sidewalks, or driveways
- Time your watering: Run sprinklers between 8:00 PM and 10:00 AM to reduce evaporation
- Use the screwdriver test: If a screwdriver slides easily into the soil, it's still moist—wait another day
Tooele City's voluntary watering schedule helps guide this seasonal transition and support conservation.
Water conservation resources: slowtheflow.org | conservewater.utah.gov | water.utah.gov
By waiting just a little longer in spring, we can make a big impact on water use throughout the entire summer.
Indoor Water Conservation Tips
When we talk about water conservation, it’s easy to focus on outdoor watering—but what we do inside our homes matters just as much.
Small changes indoors can add up to big water savings over time. Here are a few simple tips to get started:
- Take shorter showers
- Collect “warm-up” water while waiting for it to heat up—use it for plants or cleaning
- Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads
- Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it’s cold
- Turn off the sink while brushing your teeth or shaving
- Defrost food in the refrigerator instead of using running water
- Fix leaks promptly
- Consider installing low-flow fixtures
Looking for more ideas? Check out additional indoor water-saving tips at slowtheflow.org/indoor-tips/.
Curious how much water your household uses? Try the Water Use Calculator at home-water-works.org/.
You may also qualify for rebates that make water-efficient upgrades more affordable. For example, Utah Water Savers offers a toilet replacement program that can help offset the cost of upgrading to a more efficient model. Learn more at utahwatersavers.com/toiletreplacementprogram.
This Water Wednesday, take a look around your home—simple changes today can lead to lasting water savings tomorrow.
Wind and Water Loss
Spring in Tooele doesn't just bring sunshine–it brings wind.
And wind can quietly waste a lot of water.
When sprinklers run on windy days, water gets blown off target–landing on sidewalks, streets, or evaporating before it ever reaches your lawn.
Even without turning on your system, windy days are a great time to take a quick look around your yard:
- Notice where water would overspray (sidewalks, fences, driveways)
- Check for tilted or damaged sprinkler heads
- Look for areas where water tends to run off instead of soak in
- Make sure mulch or soil isn't blowing away
These small checks now can help prevent wasted water later.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3720973138042524/
Water Wednesday Words of Wisdom
Native & Drought-Tolerant Plants for Tooele Valley
Creating a water-wise yard does not have to mean tearing everything out and starting over. One of the easiest ways to build a more drought-ready landscape is by gradually adding plants that naturally do well in Utah's dry climate.
Many native and drought-tolerant plants can thrive in the Tooele Valley while using less water once established. A few options to consider include:
- Buckwheat - A hardy Utah native with colorful blooms that pollinators love.
- Globemallow - Bright orange flowers and well adapted to Utah's dry conditions.
- Serviceberry - A beautiful shrub with spring flowers, berries for wildlife, and great fall color.
- Penstemon - A low-water perennial that adds vibrant color and attracts hummingbirds.
- Lavender & Catmint - Fragrant, hardy options that tolerate heat and lower water use.
- Yucca & Red Yucca - Tough, eye-catching plants that handle hot, dry summers well.
Before heading to the nursery, it is a good idea to research what works best for your yard's sunlight, soil, and space. Even swapping out a few thirsty plants over time can make a different.
Looking for more ideas? Utah's Division of Natural Resources is hosting a free DIY webinar on May 27: "Build a Drought-Ready Yard, Without Starting Over." Tune in for practical, water-wise landscaping tips you can use right away. Watch here: TinyURL.com/MayDIYWebinar.
Sprinkler System Check
Before you turn your sprinklers on for the season, take time to do a quick irrigation system check. Over two-thirds of the average Utah home’s water use goes toward landscaping, so making sure your system is working efficiently is one of the easiest ways to conserve water.
Start with your irrigation controller—check the time, date, battery, and watering schedule to ensure it matches seasonal needs. As temperatures change throughout the year, your landscape typically needs less water in spring and fall than in the heat of summer.
Next, run each irrigation zone and watch how your system is performing. Look for broken, clogged, tilted, or sunken sprinkler heads, leaks, or misting that can signal pressure issues. Make sure water is reaching your lawn and plants evenly, not spraying sidewalks or streets.
If you have a drip system, check for clogged emitters, leaks, or disconnected tubing, and ensure emitters are placed correctly near plant root zones.
A simple spring checkup helps prevent wasted water, reduces runoff, and keeps your landscape healthy and efficient all season long.
Tooele City’s Updated Voluntary Watering Schedule
Tooele City has the responsibility and privilege to provide our citizens and customers with water for their everyday needs. While the outlook for Tooele City’s water supply is positive, it’s not unlimited.
Tooele City has adopted a new voluntary landscape watering schedule to help conserve and maintain our valuable water resources. This schedule will help reduce peak summer water pressure demands within the City and provide for more efficient water use if we all do our part.
This information is intended to provide helpful resources and remind residents of best practices for maintaining beautiful landscaping while using water efficiently.
Residential & Business Watering Schedule
- If your address ends in an odd number (1, 3, etc.) water on odd-numbered calendar days.
- If your address ends in an even number (2, 4, etc.) water on even-numbered days.
- Please do not water on the 31st day of any month.
Please keep in mind that having designated watering days does not necessarily mean watering is needed on each scheduled day.
Helpful watering tips:
- Deep, infrequent watering encourages stronger root systems.
- Watering in the early morning is ideal and helps reduce evaporation and plant disease.
- Avoid watering during midday heat due to increased evaporation and late-night watering to avoid fungus growth.
- Turn sprinklers off during rainstorms to prevent unnecessary water waste.
- Repair broken sprinkler heads and leaks promptly to conserve water and reduce bills.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the Conserve Water Utah weekly guide at https://conservewater.utah.gov/weekly-lawn-watering-guide/ for specific, localized watering recommendations, and to follow the tips in the IFA lawn-watering guide at https://grow.ifa.coop/lawn-care/lawn-watering-guide to help avoid overwatering. For more information about Water Conservation, visit tooelecity.gov/WaterConservation.
More drought conscious conservation, irrigation, and landscaping efforts will help ensure the quality of life we enjoy in our great City continues for many years to come.
A Closer Look at Tooele City's New Watering Guide
The new watering guide was developed to provide residents with practical guidance on efficient outdoor watering. It is voluntary and is based on irrigation recommendations used in other western communities with climates similar to Tooele’s.
One of the reasons for the change is that the previous watering guide had large portions of the city watering on the same days, which placed heavy demand on the water system and could reduce water pressure in certain areas. Dividing the city by the side of the street where residents live helps distribute water demand more evenly throughout the community.
We encourage residents to focus on watering efficiently rather than watering more often. In many cases, deep watering two days per week is sufficient, depending on soil type, weather conditions, and the needs of your landscape. Consider selecting watering times and days that differ from your neighbors, aiming for a schedule that spaces watering events several days apart. Regularly checking your sprinkler system and adjusting it as conditions change can also improve efficiency.
By adapting your irrigation practices to Tooele’s climate and taking an active role in managing your watering schedule, you can help your lawns, trees, and plants develop deeper root systems that are better able to withstand summer heat and drought conditions.
Residents interested in learning more about water-wise landscaping are invited to attend two upcoming classes:
- LocalScapes Class – June 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Tooele City Hall (90 N. Main Street). Discover landscaping techniques that can help reduce water use while maintaining a beautiful yard.
- WaterWise Garden Workshop – June 27 at Skyline Nature Park (600 Skyline Drive). Learn how to garden successfully in Tooele’s unique climate.
Additional information about these classes, water conservation resources, and the new watering guide can be found at Tooele City.
Water Wednesday Words of Wisdom:
Water deeply, not daily.
Healthy lawns grow stronger roots when watered less often but more thoroughly. 