Memorial Weekend officially launches summer fun season which often includes water games and activities. The water doesn’t have to go waste. Play water games on the lawn or in the pool so that the aftermath simply waters the lawn fills or trickles back to the pool.

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Keep water from evaporating or blowing in the wind by using a sprinkler that produces large drops of water and send droplets out at a low angle. Adjust sprinkler heads as necessary, to avoid waste, runoff and ensure proper coverage.

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Rain gardens capture and infiltrate runoff from roofs, driveways, and other impervious surfaces. Rain gardens not only recharge groundwater supplies, but also clean out pollutants, create pollinator habitat, increase property value, and provide year round visual interest for your home.

Check out this interactive rain garden animation from UNL extension.

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Nebraska is home of Arbor Day, which we celebrate this Friday.  See just how much work trees do!

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What Legacy Are You Creating?

Somewhere. Every drop of water that we use goes somewhere. It comes to us. Together, we are creating the future of water and building a legacy that is protec…

YOUTUBE.COM

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Properly maintained irrigation systems use water efficiently and reduce water waste. Use these tips for more effective watering:1. Clear Your Head(s). Sprinkler heads and nozzles may need to be cleared of debris or replaced if they’re worn out or broken. Look for improved designs in spray heads and nozzles that apply less water more uniformly allowing water to infiltrate instead of simply evaporate or run off. Minimize evaporation, wind, inefficient irrigation methods and systems that create runoff with good systems and good timing.

2. Check the time. Install a fresh set of batteries in the timer and check the programming schedule to water in the cooler, still times of day. Rain or moisture sensors can further reduce over or ineffective watering. According the EPA, ” a home with an automatic irrigation system that isn’t properly programmed or maintained can waste as much as 30,000 gallons of water annually.”

3. Connect well: Check for leaks where heads connect to hoses or pipes. Pooling areas indicate leaks that need immediate repair. A leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen (or 1/32nd of an inch) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.

4. And Remember – have the testable backflow prevention device on the lawn system checked once every five years by a certified plumber. It protects the municipal water supply that serves not only the lawn, but also quenches the thirst of our residents.

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EARTH DAY

Earth Day is April 22 (EVERY YEAR). It may only be one day a year, but implementing simple conservation practices year-round takes very little extra effort and time. The City of Kearney’s Recycling Center is located at 3007 E. 39th St. and is open 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. There are multiple drop-off locations around Kearney:

1919 15th Ave

South Side of Herbergers (Hilltop Mall)

University Heights on the Northwest corner of 17th Ave/35th St.

CLICK FOR MAP OF DROP OFF SITES           South Railroad St./Ave M

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Amidst the activity, we ask your help in protecting our water quality and MS4 with appropriate fertilizer application. Fertilizer in water causes large algae blooms, hypoxic (dead) zones in water as it decays, and can be toxic to water supply systems. These consequences are easy to prevent with proper application.

Fertilizing Tips:
1. Apply during calm dry weather to prevent spread into unwanted areas.
2. Apply as directed – excessive lawn feeding contributes to ground water contamination.
3. Sweep fertilizer back on the grass if it falls on the sidewalk or other impervious surface to keep it out of the storm sewer.
4. Consider grass clippings or compost as natural alternatives.

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Good Housekeeping/Pollution Prevention

Minimum Control Measure (MCM) #6 of the Stormwater Management Plan

The purpose of this MCM is to minimize the effect of the municipality’s efforts to the contribution of stormwater pollutants into receiving waters of the state. Operations have been identified that have the greatest likelihood to cause pollution to stormwater runoff. The municipal employees, the facilitators of those operations, are educated and trained in standard operation procedures for reducing pollutants from entering the storm sewer system. Actions that are performed are noted on the City of Kearney’s website, in the Smart Maps link, or by clicking here.

Street Sweepers

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If one medium sized Austrian Pine in Frank Park works this hard for our community, imagine the value of all trees in our city:

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