Jan. 6, 2003

SAN ANTONIO - Texas Cooperative Extension in San Antonio, in partnership with San Antonio Water System and the Bexar County Master Gardeners, is on a mission. Extension wants San Antonians to conserve water by watering their lawns based on the water the turf needs.

To that end, it will let you know your turf's water requirements by e-mail and telephone message, if you choose to, as part of Extension's recently launched Seasonal Irrigation Program (SIP).

The Seasonal Irrigation Program is a continuation of Extension projects in water conservation. It was recently funded by a San AntonioWater System grant for a 2-year period with an option for a third.

Extension, the Bexar County Master Gardeners and SAWS started a water conservation program in San Antonio in 1997 to promote more efficient lawn irrigation based on farm irrigation technology. It enabled homeowners learn how to measure water lost to plant evaporation and transpiration.

This information, factored with weather conditions, helps determine how much water their lawns need. The results can mean 25 percent to 30 percent savings in water, said Diane Pfeil, Extension horticulture associate.

The new grant allows Extension professionals to conduct home irrigation workshops for homeowners' associations and civic clubs and to maintain information booths at numerous city events, said Pfeil. Lawn moisture measuring kits are distributed at these events, and homeowners can sign up for the watering recommendations.

In addition to the newer e-mail and phone messaging options, homeowners receive watering recommendations weekly in the San Antonio Express-News and on two television stations.

The information is also available at http://www.saws.org/conservation/sip as well as on Extension's web page at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/F4Best/ET.htm

Since Extension started these activities, it has distributed 30,000 evapotranspiration kits that help measure the amount of water lawns receive from watering and rainfall. The kits help homeowners compare the amount of water their grass is getting to that recommended by Extension and SAWS.

The goal of the program is to encourage homeowner to adopt conservation practices, said Pfeil. Extension has learned through surveys that a homeowner can average a savings of $46 annually by using PET.

To date, 600 Bexar County citizens have elected to receive a phone message with their watering recommendation. Another 800 have chosen to receive an e-mail message, generated at SAWS on their watering day. A daily update is also available on a SIP hotline at (210) 281-1478.

For more information contact Pfeil at the Extension office at (210) 467-6575.