Maintenance and Conservation Information

Autumn Water Line Checklist

Fall is the best time to prepare for the upcoming cold Texas winter. This checklist has been formulated as a reference guide and should not be construed as a complete list.

• Insulate exposed piping: Any exposed water or drain pipes located areas without insulation, such as in a crawlspace, attic, or outside walls, should have foam insulation installed on them at a minimum. Ideally these pipes should be wrapped with electrical heating tape and then foam insulation.
• Exterior faucets: Known as hose bibbs or sill-cocks, the water supply should be turned off to all exterior faucets. Disconnect all garden hoses from exterior faucets and drain them if they are stored outside. In addition, drain residual water from the pipes by opening the exterior faucet. Insulated covers also are available for an exposed hose bibb.
• Seasonal shut down: Shut off the water supply and drain the entire plumbing system at any property that will be unoccupied for several months. This will help prevent damage to the property in the event a leak occurred while it was empty.
• Sprinkler system: Have the property's sprinkler system winterized prior to freezing conditions. Winterizing should include turning off the water supply and blowing compressed air through the sprinkler lines to purge them of water and prevent them from freezing and bursting.

View the current water restrictions for City of Irving residents and businesses.

Wastewater Monitoring Occurs January to March

Average use will determine sewer charge for upcoming year.

Now is the time to shorten showers and tighten those leaky faucets because the amount of water used from January to March will determine how much a customer pays for sewer the rest of the year. This is the February, March, and April statements respectively.

During this time, the Water Utilities Department will monitor how much water is used for on each metered account, including lawn irrigation, showering and washing clothes. The average will determine the amount the city will charge each account, on an individual basis, for wastewater for the next 12 months starting May 1.  

Once the months' consumption has been established, the new averaged charge will appear on the May billing. The city uses the winter months to average the billing rates to better reflect the actual amount of wastewater an individual account produces, due to the drastic decrease in outside water consumption activities, such as irrigation and filling pools.

View the current water restrictions for City of Irving residents and businesses.

Springtime is the time of the year for thoughts of cool sunny days and the start of a fresh new landscape. A beautiful and healthy lawn is good for the environment and can resist damage from weeds, disease and insect pests. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers the following landscaping tips to help customers save resources and money in the spring:

• Develop healthy soil. Make sure soil has the right pH balance, key nutrients and good texture. You can buy easy-to-use soil analysis kits at hardware stores or contact the Dallas branch of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension Opens a New Window.  for a soil analysis.
• Choose the right grass for your climate. If the region gets very little rain, don't plant a type of grass that needs a lot of water. Select grass seed that is well-suited to the climate and other growing conditions, such as the amount of sunlight and average rainfall. The Dallas branch of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension Opens a New Window.  can advise which grasses grow best in this area.
• Longer is better. Make sure the lawn mower blades are sharp. Grass that is slightly long makes a strong, healthy lawn with few pest problems. Weeds have a hard time taking root and growing when grass is around 2½ to 3½ inches for most types of grass.
• Water early. It is time to water if footprint impressions stay in the lawn and do not spring back. Water early in the morning and only for short periods of time so the soil may absorb the water. Longer grass has stronger roots and retains water better. Check water restrictions before watering.
• Correct thatch buildup. Thatch is a layer of dead plant materials between the grass blades and the soil. When thatch gets too thick, deeper than 3/4 of an inch, water and nutrients are prevented from getting into the soil and reaching the roots of the grass. Overusing synthetic fertilizer can create heavy layer of thatch, and some kinds of grass are prone to thatch buildup.
• Recycle grass. Don't pick up the grass clippings after you mow. Clippings will return nutrients and moisture to the soil. Consider buying a mulching lawn mower. This will cut the grass clippings finer and blow them into the lawn.
• Let your lawn breathe. Once a year, remove small plugs of earth to allow air and water to aerate the grass roots or wear your golf shoes when mowing.
• Invite a few weeds and insects into your lawn. Think of your lawn as a small piece of nature where pests have their place. Often, nature provides its own pest control in the form of birds or other insects that feed on the insects we consider nuisances.
• Use manual tools. Tools that don't require electric or gasoline engines are especially handy for small yards or small jobs. There are hand tools available that will meet a wide variety of lawn and garden needs, like lightweight, quiet, easy-to-use reel push mowers that generate no emissions.

View the current water restrictions for City of Irving residents and businesses.