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Home My WebLink AboutUBI 2010 JULYSave Water ... Save Money! CITY OF COLLEGE STATION In the summer, lawn watering and other outdoor uses account for up to 80 percent of home water use. Much of this is wasted through such poor practices as letting the water run onto the sidewalk, driveway or street. DOES YOUR GRASS NEED WATER? Many lawns receive twice as much water as they need to maintain healthy turf. To determine if your grass needs water, give your lawn the footprint test: If footprints remain visible after walking on the lawn, or the grass has a dull green color or the blades are curled, the grass needs water. Watering too much and too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus. For a healthier lawn and landscape, simply use less water. That will help keep more cash in your wallet instead of sending it down the drain. Inside College Station From the City of College Station, Home of Texas A&M University • College Station, Texas Many College Station homeowners overwater their yards, unwittingly wasting water and money every time they pull out the hose or turn on the sprinklers. Adopting water-savvy habits is essential to maintaining and extending our city water supply and saving you money, especially during peak summer use. The Irrigation Association has named July Smart Irrigation Month to encourage consumers to operate their irrigation systems at maximum efficiency. Automatic sprinklers offer convenience, control and help you keep your yard and landscape healthy and beautiful. The key to efficient outdoor irrigation is applying just enough water, and only when necessary. Water-wise habits will result in a healthier lawn and landscape while conserving water and money. July 2010 Questions? College Station Water Services welcomes them! 979.764.3660 SUMMER WATER DO’S AND DON’TS To help avoid water waste this summer, the City of College Station offers these suggestions: DON’T• water outdoors with automatic in-ground or hose-end sprinkler systems between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. DON’T• operate an irrigation system with sprinkler heads that are broken or out of adjustment. DON’T• allow water to run off a property or allow water to pond in the street or parking lot. DON’T• forget to check for and fix leaks. Repair leaks as quickly as possible. DO• water slowly and deeply and stop at the point of runoff, which could be as soon as 10-20 minutes. DO• mulch trees and plants to retain soil moisture and prevent evaporation. DO• cover hot tubs and pools to reduce evaporation losses. DO• use a bucket of soapy water for washing and a hose-end spray gun or nozzle with an automatic shut off for rinsing when washing a car or boat. DO• use a broom, not a hose, to clean your driveway, patio or sidewalk. GET A FREE IRRIGATION CHECK-UP To help residents identify irrigation problems that may be wasting water, College Station Water Services offers a free irrigation system check-up. An irrigation check-up helps locate leaks, identify broken or misdirected sprinkler heads, review how well your irrigation controller works and suggest run times for your lawn. To schedule a check-up, call 979.764.6344 or email Water Auditor Camden White at cwhite@cstx.gov. Please type “Irrigation Check-Up” in the subject line. An open, unattended garage is an invitation for anyone to come in and take items, steal from your vehicle or break into your home. Help fight crime by closing your garage door. For more information about this and other safety tips, contact Sgt. Janice Kemp of the College Station Police Department at 979.764.3624 or jkemp@cstx.gov. Girls Softball Nationals ------------- The 2010 ASA/USA Girls 16 & Under “A” Fast Pitch National Championship will be played August 1-8 at various softball complexes around College Station and Bryan. As many as 170 teams from 40 states are expected to participate. Including players, coaches, families and fans, more than 6,500 people could be in attendance. Opening ceremonies will be Sunday, August 1 at the Wolf Pen Creek Amphtheater. The tournament concludes with the championship game on Sunday, August 8 at Veterans Park. For more information, contact the College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979.764.3486 or visit cstx.gov. For more about the Amateur Softball Association, go to softball.org. Be a Master Composter ----------- The Master Composter Training Program is designed to train committed individuals who want to gain expertise and assist in educating their community about backyard composting. CITY OF COLLEGE ST A TION INSIDE COLLEGE STATION July 2010 • PAGE 2 _____________________ July 4 George Bush Library & Museum Celebration 979.691.4014_____________________ _____________________ July 5 CS City Offices Closed Regular Sanitation Collection_____________________ _____________________ July 21 Exploring History Lunch Lecture - 979.764.3491 _____________________ _____________________ August 1-8 ASA/USA Girls Softball National Championship_____________________ For more event information, visit cstx.gov Exploring History Lunch ----------- The popular Exploring History Lunch Lecture series continues with a presentation on “Free Masonry in the Brazos Valley” on July 21 at the Masonic Sul Ross Lodge located at 3411 Longmire. The event starts at 11:30 a.m. A light luncheon will be served for $5 per person. The programs are videotaped and broadcast weekly on CSTV-19. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 979.764.3491 or by emailing Heritage Programs Coordinator Anne Boykin at aboykin@cstx.gov. Go Fish! in College Station ------- The Urban Fishing Program was created to introduce fishing as a lifelong hobby to non- anglers and to provide a different fishing experience to active anglers. The program provides citizens with a fun, family-oriented activity and provides physically-challenged children with a sports activity. The City of College Station has five ponds that are stocked through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. There is a daily bag limit of five fish per day for each species of catfish, bass and trout. Children 16 years old or younger or adults born before September 1, 1930 do not need a fishing license. Go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website at tpwd.state.tx.us for other regulations pertaining to fishing city ponds or for more information about special fishing license regulations. Stocked ponds include Brothers Pond Park (two ponds), 3100 Rio Grande Street off Deacon Street; Central Park, 1000 Krenek Tap Road off Highway 6 Bypass; Cy Miller Park, 2615 Texas Avenue and King Cole Drive at the police station; and Gabbard Park, 1201 Dexter Drive South and Haines Street. Please discard all litter into trash receptacles. Don’t Invite Thieves ----------------- Every night homeowners across College Station invite thieves to steal from their homes by leaving their garage doors open. DATES TO REMEMBER: The program provides an opportunity for hands-on experience, lectures by guest speakers, instructional books and videos, and an overview of the latest composting tools and techniques. After completing the two-day training course, the Master Composters then volunteer 20 hours teaching friends and neighbors in the community. Completion of the class and volunteer hours leads to certification as an official Master Composter. Upcoming classes are Thursday, August 25 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, August 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Classes cost $15 per person, which includes a compost bin, instruction materials and lunch for the Saturday class. All classes take place at the College Station Conference Center. If you have any questions about the Master Composter Class, call Program Coordinator Shelia McQueen at 979.764.3806. You can also download the registration form at cstx.gov/bvswma. ASA/USA Girls Softball National Championship August 1-8