Water Conservation Measures

COEUR D’ALENE

• The City of Coeur d'Alene Water Department has set aside money in its budget to implement a water conservation program. The Department asks its customers to voluntarily comply with wise water use methods, such as watering only during early morning or evening, adjusting sprinklers so they water the lawn, not the sidewalks or street, watering lawns more deeply and less frequently, and to include landscaping that requires less water.
• For the last three years KEA has partnered with the Coeur d'Alene Water Dept. in its utility credit program, which allows its customers to take a credit on their utility bill of up to $75 of the cost of the purchase of water saving devices, such as a rain sensors, hose bib timers, and moisture sensors. According to Jim Markley, Superintendent of the City Water Dept., the educational value of the program is as important as how many of its customers purchase these devices.
• The Coeur d'Alene Water Department is contributing to the purchase by the Parks and Recreation Dept. for sophisticated irrigation controlling devices that will regulate the amount of irrigation water needed for several of Coeur d'Alene’s parks, including one installed on the grounds of the city’s new library. These devices will reduce up to 30% of the water that is currently used for irrigating the parks.
• Both Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls promote wise water use on their web sites, and the media. KEA has partnered with Coeur d'Alene Water Dept. in an advertising campaign promoting the utility credit program, and has been joined by Idaho Rivers United and Post Falls in a campaign advocating wise water use through newspaper and radio advertising.

POST FALLS

• The city of Post Falls has an ordinance prohibiting watering from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Post Falls Public Works Dept. had concerns that enforcement would be an onerous burden. However, according to representatives from the Public Works Dept., compliance with this ordinance has been very good. The city has only had to prosecute one offender in the three years since its passage.
• Post Falls encourages their citizens to participate in an odd-even watering system.
• The city has purchased 626 acres where it intends to land apply treated wastewater for non-consumptive crops. This will save water and reduce the amount of treated wastewater that will be discharged into the Spokane River.
• The Post Falls Public Works Dept. presents water conservation programs to Post Falls’ schools on a regular basis.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES

• Kootenai Environmental Alliance would like municipalities to require that no irrigation be conducted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• Parks, golf courses, cemeteries, schools and other facilities that have large irrigated areas should be required to employ sophisticated irrigation regulating devices. These devices will not only save water but can save the as much as 30% in water bills.
• The municipalities should encourage the use of recycled wastewater to irrigate parks, golf courses, etc.
• Create ordinances that prohibit the removal of topsoil during the construction of homes in areas that will be irrigated. Lawns lacking adequate topsoil require large amounts of water and fertilizer.
• Encourage xeriscape, that includes mulching and planting vegetation that require much less water than the traditional lawn. 
• Employ a rate structure based upon water consumption, with greatly increased rates assessed to those customers who use excessive amounts of water.