Water Conservation
June 6, 2022 Press Release
City of Saline Requests Temporary Irrigation Restrictions
Saline, MI – Residents are being asked to limit outdoor water usage and irrigation system use starting Wednesday, June 7, 2023, and ending Friday, June 23, 2023.
The short-term restrictions are in response to an unprecedented stretch of dry weather and extremely high system wide demand. Effective June 7, 2023:
- If your address ends in an odd number, irrigation/watering should occur on odd numbered dates.
- If your address ends in an even number, irrigation/watering should occur on even numbered dates.
These restrictions will remain in place until June 23, 2023.
“We hope that our residents will be good stewards of our natural resources and restrict their usage by changing habits to help conserve water during this unusually dry season,” said City Manager Colleen O’Toole.
Regardless of address, it is strongly recommended that any irrigation or outdoor watering be scheduled to occur during off-peak hours, which are between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. Irrigation systems specifically can be set to exclusively come on during off-peak hours. Reducing or eliminating irrigation and outdoor usage is an effective way to ensure that users elsewhere in the system do not experience service disruptions, such as low pressure or flows, and helps contribute to overall water clarity goals.
Several other area communities have similar irrigation restrictions to actively limit usage in response to dry weather or peak season demand. While the current restrictions are temporary, the City of Saline will continue to evaluate if more permanent regulations are necessary to ensure the resiliency of water utility systems in response to changing weather trends.
For additional information, please visit the City of Saline website, a notice on the front page will lead you to additional information about water conservation. If you have any questions about irrigation restrictions, please contact the Director of Public Works, Larry Sirls, at lsirls@cityofsaline.org.
2022 Water Quality Report
Preserving one of our planet's most valuable natural resources is important. With record highs in the summer, we are asking that residents do what they can to help conserve water.
Here are some resources to give you a start on conserving water:
- Water Use Calculator
- State of Michigan: Drinking Water and Environmental Health
- United States EPA: Ground Water and Drinking Water
Ways to Conserve Water Indoors
- Take shorter showers
- Draw less water for baths, only fill your tub halfway
- Don't use your toilet as a trashcan
- Not only does flushing objects besides waste and toilet paper create a mess at our treatment plant, it also uses more water
- Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth
- Fix any leaky faucets or toilets
- Only run the dishwasher when it is full
- Don't let the faucet run to get a cold drink, keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead
- Only run the washing machine for a full load of clothes
Ways to Conserve Water Outdoors
- Only water the lawn and garden when it needs it
- One inch of water every 10 days keeps lawns healthy and green
- Water at cooler times, like at night or early in the morning, to prevent evaporation
- Adjust the water sprinklers so they are reaching the garden and lawn rather than watering the driveway or sidewalk
- Cut the grass at least 3 inches to shade the roots
- This will keep your grass more drought tolerant and won't need to be watered as often
- If you wash your car or bikes at home, use a hose with a nozzle so the water isn't running during soaping
- Sweep the driveway and sidewalk with a brook rather than hosing it down