Get the latest drought update, details about our Flume Rebate, and how to care for your trees during the drought.
During this Drought, Let’s Conserve in Contra Costa California is in another exceptional drought. And that means we all need to do what we can to use water wisely. The less water we waste, the more water we have to use at home, to keep our businesses running, and to fight fires! While the recent storms were an excellent start to the rainy season, reservoir storage remains critically low throughout the state. Please continue to reduce water use by 10%.
Check out Contra Costa Water District’s water saving tips video series to learn about easy ways you can Conserve in Contra Costa at ccwater.com/drought.
Imagine 24/7 Water Use Monitoring for Your Home and Landscaping... We partnered with Flume Water to bring exclusive savings on the Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor to customers who receive a water bill directly from Contra Costa Water District!
Flume's revolutionary device allows you to monitor your water use right from your smartphone 24/7. It will even alert you to possible leaks!
Flume installs easily in just minutes and it gives you the power to:
Monitor your indoor and outdoor water use anytime from anywhere
Detect and put a stop to leaks immediately
Reduce your water bills with monthly budgets
For a limited time, customers who receive a water bill directly from CCWD, can get a Flume 2 Smart Home Water Monitor for just $65 plus tax and shipping (regularly $199)! Here's how it works:
Purchase your Flume Smart Home Water Monitor System for $90 plus tax and shipping (regularly $199).
Install your Flume System (you can do it yourself!)
Automatically get $25 refunded back to your credit card once the Flume System is installed.
Drought Survival – Save Our Trees Trees take a long time to establish and can be costly to remove or to replace. Many trees are stressed from the drought and will require supplemental irrigation, especially if the drought continues into next year. There is no need to sacrifice your trees considering they provide a host of benefits, including:
Improving air quality
Providing shade and habitat
Reducing home cooling costs
Sequestering carbon
Providing value to our homes and neighborhoods
Preserving trees also helps save water in your landscape since they provide shade to other plants. Here’s what you can do to help your trees survive the drought.
Maintenance During Dry Times
Mulch is a very important tool in your drought-survival toolbox. Maintain a 2-to-3-inch layer of organic mulch around trees. Keep mulch a couple feet away from the base of the tree trunk, to prevent rot. Mulch will reduce water evaporation from the soil, reduce weeds, improve soil condition, and keep soil cool when temperatures soar.
Refrain from unnecessary pruning trees during a drought. Too much pruning and drought can stress your trees.
Photo courtesy of Cal Fire
Watering Trees During a Drought
Deciduous and California native trees want most of their water in the middle of winter through early spring when new buds and leaves are forming. If it is a dry winter, start watering these trees by middle of January.
Many mature trees should be watered deeply once every 1-2 months. Trees can be watered by hand or with a soaker hose. Water at the dripline (edge of the tree canopy), extending a few feet inside and beyond the drip line. Keep water at least 6-feet away from the truck of the tree.
Water until the soil is moist at least 8-inches down. To determine when it’s time for the next watering, check the moisture level every few weeks.
Young trees need to be watered more often than mature trees. Do this by hand to avoid overwatering surrounding areas. Young trees need 5-15 gallons of water per week.
Quick Tip: Time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket to gauge how long you should be watering.
Upcoming Events Local organizations we support are offering several water efficient landscape focused webinars throughout November and December. Check out upcoming events on our Water Conservation Calendar.
