Greetings, neighbors.

Your efforts to restrict irrigation over the past week have significantly reduced daily water demands. Before the 19th of June, water demands were 5.9 million gallons per day (MGD) and rising, and are now at less than 3.4 MGD. That is a 2.5 MGD reduction attributed to your willingness to turn-off irrigation for the betterment of our community and the public water system.

Stage 2 Water Conservation Alert

Effective July 1st, and until further notice, H2GO’s Water Conservation Alert will go to Stage 2, and applies to spray irrigation systems. Odd numbered property addresses are permitted to irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and even numbered property addresses are permitted to irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays. Irrigation is restricted to evening and early morning hours between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Irrigation is prohibited during the day, and there should be no irrigation on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Irrigation controls should be adjusted for an application rate of no more than ½” of water per irrigation day – less if weekly rainfall helps to reduce supplemental irrigation. Rain and soil moisture sensors will help to reduce unnecessary irrigation.

Did you know?
 

•Irrigation should only be used to supplement weekly rainfall.
•Southern turf-grasses only require 1” of water per week.
•Turf grass is more likely to die from overwatering than underwatering.

•Overwatering can cause stunted turf growth.
   o Overwatering grass can reduce soil oxygen, making roots rot and turf to wither.
   o Overwatering promotes shallow grass roots.
   o Overwatering increases water loss from evaporation.
   o Overwatering can wash out soil nutrients, which then requires fertilization.

•Lawn fertilizers can be detrimental to your turf grass.
   o Fertilization encourages grass to grow shoots on the soil surface.
   o Grassroots do not go into the soil to open it up to oxygen and microbiota.
   o Fertilization causes soil compaction which then requires mechanical aeration.
   o The soil’s ability to hold water is greatly reduced.
   o Fertilized grass needs frequent watering.

To promote responsible irrigation usage, and to incentivize water conservation, a tiered irrigation rate structure has been established, and will become effective August 1, 2024.
 

Tiered Irrigation Rates Effective August 1, 2024
 

3/4" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (0 to 5,000 gallons) $5.00
3/4" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (5,001 to 10,000 gallons) $8.00
3/4" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (10,001 to 15,000 gallons) $12.00
3/4" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (15,001 to 20,000 gallons) $20.00
3/4" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (over 20,000 gallons) $25.00

1" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (0 to 10,000 gallons) $5.00
1" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (10,001 to 20,000 gallons) $8.00
1" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (20,001 to 30,000 gallons) $15.00
1" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (30,001 to 40,000 gallons) $20.00
1" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (over 40,000 gallons) $25.00

2" metered rate per 1,000 gallons (0 to 30,000 gallons) $5.00
2" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (30,001 to 60,000 gallons) $8.00
2" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (60,001 to 90,000 gallons) $15.00
2" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (90,001 to 120,000 gallons) $20.00
2" metered rate per 1,000 gallons usage (over 120,000 gallons) $25.00

Aside from the newly established tiered irrigation rates shown above, there will be no increase in water rates this year.

H2GO appreciates your response to the Stage 4 irrigation restrictions. Your July billing (for month of June) will reflect a 50% reduction in your irrigation base fee.

On behalf of the H2GO Commissioners and staff, thank you for your patience and understanding, and thank you for joining our efforts to effectively manage our water resources.

Bob Walker, Executive Director

Brunswick Regional Water & Sewer H2GO