For More Information Contact:
Stephen West, 341-3726
Eugene Water & Electric Board

EWEB offers watering advice during dry weather

This spring's dry weather has forced many residents to consider watering lawns and gardens earlier than normal.

Water-use experts at the Eugene Water & Electric Board can help customers "dial in" the right amount of water needed for landscapes, lawns and new plantings. Using the correct amount of water promotes healthy landscapes and can keep water bills low, says Stephen West, EWEB's Water Management Services supervisor.

"Customers already are seeing their landscapes start to dry out," West said. "Unless we see a return to more normal rainfall during the next few weeks, the outdoor irrigation season is likely to begin much earlier than usual. Our goal is to help customers avoid overwatering at a critical time in the growing season."

EWEB already has launched its weekly "ET" watering guide, with a new hotline telephone number (341-8510) and on www.eweb.org. ET stands for "evapotranspiration," and the number is a measure of how much water is needed on lawns from week to week from now to October.

The ET number is changed each Friday. More on ET, and how to calculate your own watering needs, can be found on www.eweb.org, and clicking on "All About Water."

For more information about how to save water, call EWEB's Water Management Services at 984-4747

Reporters, editors: EWEB's Water Management Services Supervisor, Stephen West, is available for interviews at 341-3726.

-- end --