Bend urges residents: Be water-wise amid hot spell

Weather forecasters are predicting temperatures in Central Oregon to reach or exceed 100 degrees this week. While this is not uncommon for Central Oregon, the City of Bend is encouraging all residents to use water wisely as temperatures increase in the coming days and weeks.

Residents are urged to focus their attention on outdoor water use this time of year.

“The majority of residential water use occurs outside the home this time of year,” says Mike Buettner, Water Conservation Program Manager for the City of Bend. “Now is the time to get out there and check to make sure your system is free of irrigation runoff and overspray, and to ensure you’re following the city’s approved irrigation hours.”

Irrigation isn’t allowed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., when water demands are highest. Even- numbered addresses should irrigate on even-numbered days, odd-numbered addresses should irrigate on odd-numbered days.

Steps to reduce water use during the growing season include:

· Inspect for irrigation system leaks, runoff and overspray

· Follow to the City’s irrigation hours and even/odd day irrigation schedule

· Convert landscape irrigation to drip irrigation where possible

· Convert high water turf landscape to a low water type

· Ask a professional landscape or irrigation contractor to increase your landscape water efficiency

Visit www.waterwisetips.org for more information on how to save water in the landscape and at home.

Have questions about your irrigation system? Contact the City of Bend Utility Department by at 541-317-3000 (opt. 2) or conservation@bendoregon.gov .