Plainview Water District is Dedicated to Offering the POB Community Important Water and Cost-Saving Advice

With warmer weather on the horizon, the Plainview Water District (PWD) would like to remind residents and local businesses of the importance of water conservation and the simple steps to follow to do so. Water usage throughout the POB community nearly triples during the spring and summer, primarily due to irrigation systems. Conservation efforts won’t just save money and cut down on unnecessary water wastage, but they will also notably alleviate stress on our infrastructure and help protect our sole-source aquifer.

“Each year, with the onset of spring and summer, there is a noticeable surge in water demand within the Plainview-Old Bethpage community,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “With the reactivation of irrigation systems and the common occurrence of inefficient lawn watering practices, it is important for us to remind our residents of better practices that will save both water and money. We encourage residents to be attentive and adjust their irrigation controller schedules to better align with current weather conditions and temperatures. By adopting better watering practices, significant amounts of water, potentially tens of thousands of gallons per household, can be conserved and prevented from being needlessly wasted.”

A lawn’s watering needs fluctuate significantly between April and September. Merely programming an irrigation clock in April and deactivating it when the season concludes in the Fall may result in significant water waste. Installing a smart irrigation controller is the best way to remove the guesswork and burden of remembering to alter watering schedules. Smart controllers use a Wi-Fi connection to tap into local weather stations to automatically adjust watering schedules based on past, present and future weather conditions. To enhance water management, consider installing a rain sensor in your irrigation system to prevent sprinklers from activating during or after rainfall events.

“Irrigation practices are often misinterpreted, with many believing that our lawns need a significant amount of water in the warmer months,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “In reality, to keep a lawn healthy, only about an inch of water per week is necessary. Overwatering encourages shallow roots, increasing the risk of grass burning on hot days.”

The Plainview Old-Bethpage community can do their part by also being mindful of Nassau County’s Lawn Watering Ordinances, which dictate when homeowners can and cannot water their lawns. The ordinance stipulates that even-numbered homes and non-numbered homes can only water on even-numbered days, odd-numbered homes can only water on odd-numbered days, and no lawn watering can be done between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on any day. 

In addition, residents can also consider turning back the amount of time each zone in their irrigation system waters. Removing just a few minutes of watering from each zone will have a significant impact on water usage, which will ultimately be reflected in the residents’ bills. 

“By simply following best irrigation practices and utilizing available technology, the POB community can be champions in water conservation,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “Yes, it does require a modest upfront investment to convert to a smart controller or other similar water-saving equipment, but the amount saved in your water bill will more than pay for the upfront costs in a relatively short period of time.”

For additional information on water-saving tips and best practices throughout the irrigation season, please call (516) 931-6469 or visit the Plainview Water District website at www.plainviewwater.org. Be sure to sign-up for email updates on the District’s homepage to receive additional information about water district activities. 

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