Don't Let Increased Water Rates Ruin Your Ottawa Lawn Care

Ottawa citizens are bracing for a major water rate hike, thanks to a long-range financial plan presented to City Council. According to the Ottawa Sun, Ottawa water rates are projected to increase by 6% this spring, adding roughly $34 to the average water and sewer bill.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The proposal also includes a 7% hike in each of 2013 and 2014, a 6% increase for 2015 and 2016, and a 5% increase for each of the years up to 2021. Compounded, Ottawa citizens are looking at a 74% increase to their water bill, which averages out to nearly $1,000 in additional charges over the next 10 years.

How the Hike Will Affect Your Ottawa Lawn Care

There's no denying the costly effect this hike will have on Ottawa homeowners, especially those who rely upon a traditional lawn sprinkler system. These inefficient systems are based solely on a timed controller for irrigation schedule. As such, customers are often caught overwatering, wasting unnecessary amounts of water and money.

Luckily, there are ways to help improve the water efficiency of your system using a smart controller. A smart controller will enable you to decrease water consumption and improve accuracy of water placement, all while decreasing runoff and evaporation. Don't let a proposed water hike drain you of your hard-earned cash. Invest in a consumption-friendly controller to help reduce your watering expenses.

Get Smart with These Controllers

The inground irrigation specialists at Nutri-Lawn Ottawa provide a full range of residential and commercial sprinkler system controllers, including these environmentally-friendly options:

• Toro Intelli-Sense Smart Sprinkler System: Designed to optimize the irrigation schedule of your lawn automatically, the Toro Intelli-Sense controller provides precision moisture placement. The advanced system combines unique programming with daily satellite-transmitted weather data in order to provide accurate irrigation 24/7.
• Rain Bird ET Manager: Moisture imbalances can often be traced back to disparities between evapotranspiration and irrigation. The Rain Bird ET Manager ensures the balance between water loss and water gain automatically, creating an accurate irrigation schedule for your Ottawa property.
• Hunter Solar Sync Sensors: Harness the power of the sun with Solar Sync smart controller technology. The Solar Sync is designed to automatically adjust the watering schedule of your sprinkler system based on sudden changes in precipitation, temperature, and sun strength.

Aerate to Improve Water Retention

Aerating your lawn twice a year, once in the early spring and once again in the fall, can greatly improve the amount of water your lawn retains year round. This is because core aeration enables your lawn to "breathe", drinking in oxygen and moisture to be stored and drawn on during times of drought. In order to make the most of your aeration, remember to apply a top-dressing rich in organic material shortly thereafter. This will help improve the health and vitality of your yard by locking in moisture and vital minerals.

Ottawa's environmental committee will revisit the proposed water hike on February 21. In the meantime, contact Nutri-Lawn Ottawa to learn more about consumption-friendly sprinkler controllers and Ottawa lawn care practices.