Janesville residents using more water
JANESVILLE — Janesville city residents used an average of about 2 million more gallons of water per day in June compared to last year, but officials aren’t worried about running dry.
City water utility employees are seeing a “substantial” increase in water use as residents water continue to water lawns and plantings during the recent drought.
In June 2011, the city averaged 10.6 million gallons a day compared to 12.5 million this year, said David Botts, utility director. Data was not yet available for July, but use has increased even more in the last couple weeks, he said.
“We have plenty of water to provide to our customers,” Botts said. “Right now we’ve been running probably around 16 million gallons a day,” and as high as 18 million.
Before the dry weather set in, the city ran 9 million to 10 million gallons a day, though water usage always increases in summer, Botts said.
The utility has a pumping capacity of about 30 million gallons a day.
Between city meter reader Al Meehan and one co-worker, all residential city water meters are read every 10 weeks.
“We see everything,” Meehan said, noting the current dry conditions and increased water usage are the worst he has seen.
“You can tell if they’re watering—the grass is green, of course,” he said. “People are just trying to keep things alive.”
Many of the people who are watering also want to know how much their water bills are, Meehan said.
The billing department has taken 60 calls in one day with that very question, he said.
The city offers a reduced rate for irrigating if residents buy and install a clear water meter, Botts said.
The utility has been functioning well through the drought, and the whole Rock River basin area has a good supply of groundwater, he said.
“There’s no indication of any concern about the water quantity in this whole Rock River basin,” Botts said.
Still, he advised residents to be aware of their watering and avoid unnecessary use.
While watering bans are popping up in other areas of southern Wisconsin, Botts said he doesn’t foresee that happening in Janesville.
“Certainly we have to evaluate as time goes on,” he said.
The increased water sales help fund the utility, Botts said, but with more water use comes more expense in pumping, electrical and chemical costs.
“It’s not just a clear profit,” he said.
Clear water meters
The city of Janesville offers clear water meters for sale to city residents. The meters measure outdoor water use exclusively so residents are only charged for the water, not additional sewer charges associated with indoor water use.
The water utility has had five people come in for meters in the last few weeks—about the same amount as it would see in a full year, customer service representative Jodi Athmann said.
To get a meter, a resident first must get a $50 plumbing permit from City Hall, Athmann said. The homeowner then would hire a plumber to install the extra piping, and the city plumbing inspector must approve the work. Water utility staff will install the meter and reading device. The resident’s cost for the meter, reading device and city installation is $192.83.
Residents save $1.89 on 100 cubic feet, or 750 gallons, of clear water for the first 11,250 gallons. Homeowners can call the city billing department at (608) 755-3090 for records on their bills and possible savings. For questions on the plumbing, call (608) 755-3060, and for questions for the water utility, call (608) 755-3115.
Jul 16, 2012 at 6:11 p.m.
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mteg: Why are you so interested in opinion and not reading the factual article I placed on this site. I don't care what you think is dead or not...the fact is brown brittle grass does not mean dead. Read the link before you make yourself look more foolish.
Jul 16, 2012 at 2:27 p.m.
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Plant zoysia grass and the roots go down four feet or more. This grass will stay green in conditions like this.
Jul 16, 2012 at 1:49 p.m.
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mteg, while it is true that our aquifer is not in any real danger from this drought, we are not actually in the Great Lakes basin in Rock County. The Rock River is part of the Mississippi watershed..
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If you want to avoid a fee for waste water that's going to your lawn, you can invest in the plumbing and a clean water meter; call the water utility for details. It may take some years to recoup that investment, though, unless you have a massive lawn. You can also buy a stormwater collection barrel and use that for watering.
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All that said, most people WAY overwater their lawns. In fact, the less you water it, the better your lawn will survive a dry period, because it will develop a deeper root system. Heavy watering encourages shallow roots in the part of the soil that dries out fastest. (Most people overfertilize as well, and as they water this means an influx of nutrients and toxins into waterways.) You can also make your grass hardier by mowing higher -- say 3" instead of 2". It doesn't actually change how often you need to mow. So it's possible to have a healthy lawn AND be more planet-friendly at the same time.
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As to whether your grass is dormant, again, check the crown. The blades can get completely dried like straw and the crown remains alive, which will pretty much regrow the grass once the rain comes.
Jul 16, 2012 at 12:54 p.m.
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eetech, grass will only lay dorment for about a week, then start to die. evidence of this can be seen in my neighbors front yard (spot from curb to sidewalk. Once the grass is brittle enough, it breaks off leaving nothing but soil in it's place-leading to bare spots. Now nature will like reseed this given the right climate-in a couple years. Or you could spend between $10 and $100 reseeding and watering, or you could just apply the ample amount of water which results in a lightish green that is easy to turn dark green grass that will grow thicker when rain comes. If you like a brown yard, bare spots, spending money on grass seed, etc...then by all means do it. If I choose to "waste" water keeping my yard (which I've worked hard to get looking good)it's my right to. I'm paying my taxes and water bill. Using the 3rd world country excuse about drought is just silly. Go preach somwhere else. People waste money and resources all the time, I just choose to have a green lawn. Some people drive suv's that get 10mpg... I'm sure my water bill will be expensive, but to me it's worth it. Arrogant...yes...The money I spend now will save me hundreds if not more next year when I won't have to reseed my lawn, or worse pay somone to do it.
Jul 16, 2012 at 12:19 p.m.
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http://fyi.uwex.edu/drought2012/files/20...
Jul 16, 2012 at 12:17 p.m.
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nicksmom: Not true...grass will lye dormant for about 6-8 weeks and only requires about .25" a week to keep the crown (the part between the roots and the blade). Of course it does depend on the type of grass but Kentucky Blue Grass is predominant in WI, and that will go almost 2 months before dying. You can water it about .25" a week or .5" every other week to keep the crown moist and the grass from dying...I would suggest learning before opening your mouth.
mteg: You are the reason I put the word "arrogant" in my previous post. Why not waste it...it's in my back yard and I was born here...It's not my problem others were born elsewhere. Eating food and water grass are two very different things! One is a necessity and the other a luxury and I'm sure you can tell the difference.
Jul 16, 2012 at 12:11 p.m.
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nicksmom is coorect. I said this on another site. YOu have to have 1/2 per month to KEEP it dormant.
GO ahead and don't do the 1/2 inch and see how much water you will need to RESEED or or resod your lawn and how much $$ that will cost.
Trees will need some water too. Anyhting you planted in the last couple years- better get them on water regimin too!
Water compared to loss and re watering all over again - NOT.
"Nature decides when grass is green or brown not us...Give up your green lawns and save water."
Another stupid comment.
If we always relied on nature we would be in big trouble. "Nature whips out cities so do we just say oh well and not rebuild. DO we not protect our homes?
Jul 16, 2012 at 10:43 a.m.
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Sorry eetech, nature selected me to be born near one of the largest bodys of clean fresh water in the world. Just because waters scare somewhere else, why should it effect us-we are in no way in danger running out.If you really feel that way, stop eating out, or eating all together as there are starving people all over the world, including America. What gets me is getting charged for waste removal in addition to water ussage-when my water consumtion level above average use is going directly into the yard...not down the drain (aside from money spent).
Jul 16, 2012 at 9:47 a.m.
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I paid $15k for landscaping. I'm certainly not going to let it die. As for grass not dying in drought - that is incorrect. Grass will die after 3-4 weeks of no water.
Jul 16, 2012 at 8:36 a.m.
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"Janesville city residents used an average of about 2 million more gallons of water per day in June compared to last year."
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This is so profound!!
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I know that I am going out on a limb here, but I bet that Janesville city residents are used more electricity also.
Jul 16, 2012 at 8:05 a.m.
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Watering your lawns with a precious resource like drinking water is absurd and really quite arrogant. Throughout the world drinking water is scarce yet we seem to think it is ok to water our lawns...I'm sorry but that is dead wrong and should be stopped. Nature decides when grass is green or brown not us...Give up your green lawns and save water.
Jul 15, 2012 at 1:39 p.m.
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Is anyone wondering how much water the mega cow factory out on hwy 14 and Schraine is drawing off yer aquifer?
If 5,ooo cows use 500,000 gallons a day in those large scale operations, where do you think it will be drawn from? That and the re-charging for the aquifer is a sittin under that mega dairy.
Way to go Walker! Trade water quality and quantity for jobs!
Thats OK. The hospital might not have enough, but we'll have plenty of milk - dry- cheese- and frozen.
You can't fix stupid.
Jul 15, 2012 at 11:49 a.m.
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Watering grass is a complete waste of money and hydro resources. Grass doesn't die in a drought; it goes dormant. That's what it's supposed to do. When the rainfall returns, the grass comes back with it. Nature's way is best.
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