Wedgwood Square Neighborhood Association

Fort Worth's water usage is over twice as high in the summer as it is in the winter because of the water we put into our landscapes. Summer water peaks are associated to an increase in residential outdoor watering.

In April, the Fort Worth City Council adopted a Drought Contingency/Emergency Water Management Plan. Implementation of water restrictions would be triggered when water demands or supply reach specified levels. Efficient outdoor watering practices can help delay or avoid restrictions. To use water efficiently, avoid watering your lawn between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dont over water. Deep and infrequent watering is the key to a healthy lawn. Keep those automatic sprinkler systems on manual so you end up watering during the rain, or just after it rained.

There are four stages to the drought/emergency plan. Stage 1 is a warning and includes no mandatory measures. Stage 2 restrictions prohibit lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and allow for watering only once every five days based on the last digit of your address. Stages 3 and 4 ad more restrictions. The entire plan can be viewed at all Fort Worth Public Libraries and online at http://www.fortworthgov.org/water.

Here are some watering tips to ensure efficient water use and delay Stage 2 restrictions:

* Water only when needed. The grass will turn an off color and footprints will remain when it needs water.

* Water deeply. An inch of water penetrates four to six inches below ground. Use a tuna can or sprinkler gauge to measure when you reached an inch.

* Water early. This will reduce wasteful evaporation.

* Water slowly. Clay soils have a slow absorption rate and may runoff because water is applied to quickly. To ensure the best absorption, turn off the sprinkler when runoff occurs. Wait 20 minutes for water to absorb into ground. Dig a test hole to see how deeply it absorbed. Repeat steps until the water penetrates six inches deep.

* Never water on windy days.

* Mulch two to three times a year with organic matter on flower, garden and shrub beds. This slows evaporation, regulates soil temperature and retards weed germination.

* Choose plants native or adapted to this region and soil conditions.

* In the summer, let the grass grow a little longer. Taller grass holds moisture better and slows down evaporation.

Speakers are available to discuss efficient water use techniques with neighborhood associations and civic groups. To arrange a speaker, email us at WPE@fortworthgov.org or call us at 817-392-6565.

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DATE
COUNTY
CITY
LOCATION
TIME

Monday Jan 10
Leon
Centerville
Grand Room Courthouse Annex
7:00 PM

Tuesday Jan 11
Anderson
Palestine
Regional Med. Center
7:00 PM

Thursday Jan 13
Limestone
Groesbeck
County Courtroom
7:00 PM

Tuesday Jan 18
Comanche
De Leon
City Hall
7:00 PM

Thursday Jan 20
Coryell
Copperas Cove
City Library
6:30 PM

Saturday Jan 22
Collin
Plano
Collin Co.Comm College Spring Creek
8:30 AM

Monday Jan 24
Milam
Rockdale
Fire Station
7:00 PM

Tuesday Jan 25
Robertson
Franklin
County Courthouse
7:00 PM

Thursday Jan 27
Wise
Bridgeport
Fine Arts Theater
7:00 PM

Saturday Jan 29
Tarrant
N. Richland Hills
Richland H.S. Auditorium
8:30 AM

Monday Jan 31
Fannin
Bonham
South Annex Building
7:00 PM

Tuesday Feb 1
Lamar
Paris
Aiken Elementary School
7:00 PM

Wednesday Feb 2
Delta
Cooper
County Courthouse
7:00 PM

Thursday Feb 3
Hopkins
Sulphur Springs
Main City Library
7:00 PM

Saturday Feb 5
Dallas
Irving
Main Library Auditorium
9:00 AM

Monday Feb 7
Lampasas
Lampasas
Fire Administration Building
7:00 PM

Tuesday Feb 8
Mills
Goldthwaite
Fire Station
7:00 PM

Wednesday Feb 9
Cooke
Gainesville
Civic Center
7:00 PM

Thursday Feb 10
Stephens
Breckenridge
TSTC Center
7:00 PM

Saturday Feb 12
Denton
Denton
MCL Auditorium TWU Campus
8:30 AM

Tuesday Feb 15
Johnson
Cleburne
Civic Center
7:00 PM

Wednesday Feb 16
Kaufman
Kaufman
Fire Station
7:00 PM

Thursday Feb 17
Grayson
Sherman
Municipal Ballroom
7:00 PM

Saturday Feb 19
Dallas
Garland
Granville Arts Center
8:30 AM

Monday Feb 21
Freestone
Fairfield
Fairfield H.S. Auditorium
6:30 PM

Tuesday Feb 22
Palo Pinto
Mineral Wells
Lamar Elementary School
6:00 PM

Thursday Feb 24
Jack
Jacksboro
1st Nat'l Bank Community Room
6:30 PM

Saturday Feb 26
Tarrant
Arlington
Bob Duncan Center
9:00 AM

Monday Feb 28
Hood
Granbury
Driftwood Theater
7:00 PM

Tuesday Mar 1
Henderson
Malakoff
Senior Citizens Center
7:00 PM

Wednesday Mar 2
Navarro
Corsicana
Cook Center Planetarium
6:30 PM

Monday Mar 7
Van Zandt
Canton
TBD
TBD

Tuesday Mar 8
Rains
Emory
Fire Station
7:00 PM

Wednesday Mar 9
Falls
Lott
TBD
TBD

Thursday Mar 10
Hunt
Greenville
Fletcher Warren Civic Center
6:30 PM

Saturday Mar 12
Bell
Belton
Belton H.S. Auditorium
8:30 AM

Monday Mar 14
Young
Graham
Main Fire Station
6:30 PM

Tuesday Mar 15
Parker
Weatherford
City Council Chambers
7:00 PM

Wednesday Mar 16
Hamilton
Hamilton
TBD
6:30 PM

Thursday Mar 17
Erath
Stephenville
Courthouse Annex
6:30 PM

Tuesday Mar 22
Eastland
Eastland
Fire Station
7:00 PM

Friday Mar 25
Bosque
Meridian
Civic Center
7:00 PM

Saturday Mar 26
McLennan
Waco
Bosque Theater
9:00 AM

Tuesday Mar 29
Rockwall
Rockwall
Lake Pointe Church
7:00 PM

Thursday Mar 31
Ellis
Waxahachie
Waxahachie H.S. Fine Arts Center
7:00 PM

As we head into winter ...the Fort Worth Environmental Management Department reminds residents that traffic congestion and air quality concerns don't disappear.

Winter often means bad weather and difficult driving conditions. But there are two simple ways motorists can minimize time spent outside in cold and traffic..:

* Trip chaining or combining multiple errands into one trip. When you trip chain, your catalytic converter stays warm and helps your vehicle burn fuel more efficiently. When you first start an automobile after it's been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine's warm.

* Telecommuting when you can.

Following these simple tips can reduce stress, and save time and money, while helping ease traffic congestion and air pollution-even in winter.

Environmental Management officials also remind motorists that proper car care is just as important during the winter as the spring and summer. Regular maintenance and tune-ups, changing the oil an checking tire inflation can improve gas mileage, extend your car's life and increase it's resale value. It also can reduce traffic congestion due to preventable breakdowns. and could reduce your car's emissions b more than half.

It all adds up to cleaner air.

Information Provided By For Worth City Times 12-03 Vol 22 No.12