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City Increases Water Wise House Call Hours, Water Waste Patrols

FOLSOM, CA - Dramatically dry conditions have led Folsom City officials to ask all water customers to cut usage by a minimum of 10 percent.

"We're asking everyone to reduce water use and we're expanding our conservation programs to help them reach our goals," said Don Smith, water conservation manager. Folsom has extended the free Water Wise House Call service hours until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Water Wise House Call analyzes water use and provides customized water conservation solutions.

The City has also increased Water Waste Patrols. The patrols issue violation notices explaining what type of water waste was observed and offer a free Water Wise House Call. If no action is taken to correct the water waste problem, Code Enforcement is notified. At that point, the water customer may be fined.

"Improper irrigation is Folsom's single biggest waste of water," said Smith. "About 60 percent of residential water is used for outdoor irrigation, much of which ends up as run-off in the gutter. The average household landscaping is over watered by at least 50 percent. With a free Water Wise House Call, we can usually resolve water waste by helping our water customers adjust their sprinklers and set their irrigation controls to water more efficiently, eliminating over watering and water run-off."

The City of Folsom's Water Wise House Calls are scheduled on weekdays by appointment. A City water conservation expert will go to a water customer's home or business to conduct the approximately one-hour House Call. The appointment includes a site inspection and evaluation of the landscape, irrigation equipment, irrigation system design, and assistance in programming irrigation controllers.

City water conservation experts also provide information on available rebates and ways to conserve water indoors, and offer a free conservation kit with faucet aerators, toilet tank leak dye, a low-flow showerhead, and/or a garden hose nozzle.

Folsom water customers may call (916) 355-7252 to schedule a free Water Wise House Call.