City offers free rain gauges to curb lawn overwatering
City offers free rain gauges to curb lawn overwatering
Janis Reeser, Springfield State Journal-RegisterWed, May 6, 2026 at 3:41 PM UTC
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Residents looking to maintain their lawns while conserving water can pick up a free rain gauge from City Water, Light and Power starting May 6.
The gauges will be available at the utility's Customer Service Office, 300 S. Seventh St. in Municipal Center East, according to a community announcement.
The effort is in recognition of Drinking Water Week.
More: Springfield water utility wins regional taste test
Rain gauges help measure rainfall
A typical Illinois lawn needs about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, including rainfall, according to the announcement.
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Rain gauges can help homeowners track how much rain their lawns receive, so they can avoid overwatering.
The Irrigation Association found that many property owners overwater their lawns and landscapes by as much as 30%. Most lawns will go dormant during extended dry periods but will tend to come back once normal rainfall returns.
How to reduce outdoor water use
The announcement included several tips for reducing outdoor water use:
When watering your lawn or garden, make sure the water goes where it is needed, not onto the sidewalks, driveway or street.
Using drip irrigation hoses, rather than sprinklers, can be a much more efficient way to water shrubs, flowers, trees and other landscaping. It directs the water right toward the plant roots.
If you have an in-ground irrigation system, visit the Smart Irrigation Page at tinyurl.com/3rtsz4tr.
Install one or more rain barrels to capture rain water runoff from your roof. Even a relatively small rain event can result in the capture of a significant amount of water that can be used to water outdoor plants or even wash a car.
Don't over-water your lawn. A healthy lawn needs only about one inch of water per week. Use a rain gauge to measure the amount of water added to your lawn.
When you do water, do so in the early morning when temperatures are at their lowest and there will be less chance of evaporation.
Add several inches of mulch around landscape plants to help the ground around their roots retain moisture.
When mowing, set your mower blade to a height of at least 3 inches. The taller the grass, the better the roots will be shaded and the longer the soil will hold moisture.
If you're ready for a new landscaping project, replace grass with native plants, groundcover or hardscaping that will require less watering.
When washing your car at home, use a hose attachment that will allow you to shut off water flow except when you need it for wetting and rinsing the car. If you can, park the car on your lawn while washing, so the water you use can also water your grass. Better yet ... wash your car at a car wash. Most modern car washes utilize water recycling systems that significantly reduce waste.
When conditions call for even greater reductions in water use, ornamental fountains should be turned off and new plant or tree installations should be postponed.
For more information, visit the City Water, Light and Power website at tinyurl.com/3rtsz4tr.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: City offers free rain gauges for smarter lawn watering
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