Welcome to iConserve!
Welcome to the iConserve web page, home to the City’s water conservation campaign. Here you will find information about the City’s water management program, tips on conservation, and other helpful information about how you can be a part of the iConserve movement.

The iConserve campaign’s goal is to educate residents about the need for water conservation, and to inform them on how they can each do their part. Remember, YOU put the “i” in iConserve!

Stage 2 Water Alert 

As California's drought continues, Folsom officials are asking residents to reduce overall water usage by 20%.  The City's Stage 2 Water Alert limits all landscape watering to three days each week.  These landscape watering restrictions are mandatory and are being enforced. 

Stage 2 Watering Restrictions

The Stage Two Alert also requires that water customers avoid excessive watering that runs off onto sidewalks, streets or gutters.  Hoses must be equipped with shut-off nozzles, and driveways, sidewalks or buildings should be swept rather than hosed down unless necessary for health or safety.  Restaurants will continue to serve water only upon request.  

The City is asking all residents and businesses to reduce water use by 20 percent.

The City has cut back usage in Landscape and Lighting Districts and other public areas by 20 percent and is continuing to look for ways to be water efficient.  Read more to learn how you can do your part.  

Water Conservation Tips

Click here for Variance Request and Instructions

Click here to see Pre/Post Stage 2 declaration Water Use Graphs   

Click here to see the April 2009 Monthly Runoff & Allocation Report  
                                                   

Water Management Program

Part of the City’s Water Management Program (WMP), Folsom offers residents, businesses, schools and parks free water surveys.

Typically, up to 70 percent of residential water use occurs outdoors. A water use survey will give you important information on improving the effectiveness of your landscape irrigation as well as ways to conserve inside the home, including how to check for leaks.

A free water use survey includes:

Call the Folsom Water Management Program at (916) 355-7252 to schedule a free water use survey.  

Water surveys are scheduled on weekdays by appointment. A survey will normally take up to one hour for a typical residence. Someone must be home to allow access to gated yards and to operate automatic controllers.

Rebates
The City of Folsom offers a variety of rebate programs for its residents. Some rebates are ongoing and some are only offered for a limited time. Rebate programs may include low flow toilets, residential irrigation upgrades, high efficiency washing machines or landscape irrigation. Click here or call (916) 355-7252 to see if you qualify for one of the current rebate programs.

Summer Water Conservation Tips
Many water conservation tips can be implemented all year.  Following are several tips to keep in mind during warm months.

• Cycle and Soak – Water your lawn in short intervals rather than one long interval.  This allows the soil time to absorb the water, eliminating overwatering and runoff.
• Water landscaping no more than two or three times a week during the summer
• Water when it’s cool – Water between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. – for maximum absorption.
• Adjust you sprinklers – Don’t water the sidewalk or driveway.  Keep the water on your landscape.
• Re-circulate! – Make pools, spas and ornamental fountains re-circulating and leak-proof.
• Use a broom – Sweep sidewalks and driveways clean, rather than using a hose.
• Use automatic shut-off nozzles – Don’t let your hoses run between uses.
• Cover swimming pools – Covers cut the loss of water by evaporation 90 percent.
• Don’t let the water run – Shut off the water when you wash your hands, brush your teeth or shave.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Full loads only – Only run the dishwasher and clothes washer when you have a full load.
• Be efficient – Consider remodeling with more energy efficient washing machines and low-flow toilets (rebates available!)
• Install low-flow showerheads  

Winter Water Conservation Tips
When the weather turns rainy and cold that doesn't mean you don't need to continue to conserve water! Below are some tips on how you can conserve during the winter months - and anytime during the year! 

• Water with the weather – As the days grow colder and shorter and the winter rains arrive, your landscape will require very little or no water. Most plants are dormant, even if they’re still green. Our seasonal rains provide all the water they need. Remember, over watering causes more problems than under watering. Only water during extended dry spells.
• Get to know your pipes – Water pipes located in crawl spaces, outside walls, outside faucets, unheated rooms, basements, garages and attics are the most vulnerable to freezing. Get to know the location of these pipes so you can take the necessary precautions to prevent freezing.
• Winterize your pipes – Our temperatures don’t often fall below freezing, but when they do, exposed pipes on the exterior of your home can be vulnerable. Protect exposed pipe by wrapping them with insulation.
• Insulate your exposed hot water pipes – This will reduce the amount of water needed to run before you have hot water, especially at the fixtures furthest from your hot water heater.
• Know the location of your main shut off valve -- If a pipe does freeze and burst you will be able to shut off the water immediately. If you can’t shut off the water, call (916) 355-7200 for assistance during normal business hours. For assistance after hours, holidays, or weekends, call the Police non-emergency number (916) 355-7230.
• When you’re away, have a plan to keep your thermostat at 55 degrees or higher – If you plan on not being home for an extended period of time, have a plan so you don’t return to a broken pipe! Have a neighbor check on your house or install a battery-operated freeze alarm. The alarms are available for less than $100 and dial a user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees.

 Don't keep all this good information to yourself.... tell everyone "iConserve".

iConserve Advertising Campaign
Check out our latest iConserve ad seen in your local paper! The iConserve ads serve as a reminder to residents about ways they can do their part in water conservation.  Click here to view the ad.

Folsom High School Film Contest
The City of Folsom has partnered with Folsom High School for the past several years on a student film contest. The contest calls for Folsom High School students to develop short films with messages that educate the community about a need, such as water conservation and recycling. Each year the topic changes. In 2006, the topic was Dry Year Planning and in 2005 the focus was Water Conservation. Click here to see the winning student videos and learn more about how you can make a difference.

Helpful Links
Here are some links that will help you on your way to water conservation:

Drought SurvivalRecommendations from the California Landscape Contractors Association
http://www.clca.org/clca/about/consumer/drought/

Test Your WaterSense Quiz
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/text.htm

Take a Tour! – Learn how to conserve water in each room at home
http://www.h2ouse.org/

Visit a Demonstration Garden run by the Sacramento County Master Gardeners
http://groups.ucanr.org/sactomg/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/

Visit a Water Efficient Landscape (WEL) Garden in the Sacramento Region
Click here for flyer

Infuse Yourself with Irrigation Information
http://www.wateright.org/

Schedule Your Sprinkler Timer
http://folsom.ca.us/depts/utilities/water/water_conservation/sprinkler_timer_info.asp

                                         http://www.water.ca.gov/drought/