In an effort to conserve water for fire protection, health and environmental reasons, water conservation measures are in effect from May 15 through September 15.
During this time, lawn sprinkling and outdoor water usage only is permitted from 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. on odd or even dates of the month depending on the last digit of the address for homes and businesses, including those with lawn irrigation systems.
Please call the Tinley Park Public Works Department at (708) 444-5500 if you do not know what days you are allowed to water. Also, please view our Water Conservation Tiers to understand the Village's level of conservation, which can change depending on weather conditions. Residents are notified of a change in conservation measures through colored signage throughout town, as well as website notices and email alerts.
Conserve Water and Have a Healthy Lawn
Watering your lawn frequently not only wastes water, but also promotes shallower root systems, weeds and crabgrass. Here are some tips for conserving water and having a healthy lawn:
- Water deeply, not frequently. Your lawn will be healthier if it receives about one inch of water every three to four days. Providing more will over-saturate the soil, causing water to run off.
- Make sure you are watering your lawn, not the street or sidewalk. Water that falls on pavement goes into our sewer systems, increases your water bill and wastes water.
- Use a rain gauge. Rain gauges will tell you how much rain has fallen and how much more water, if any, you should add by sprinkling the lawn.
- Sprinklers are available with dials that can be set to water specific amounts at specific times. You can purchase them at your local hardware store or garden center.
- If you have an automatic system, make sure it has a rain meter installed. This will prevent the system from running during rainstorms, which are critical times for our water system to recharge.
- Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water.
- If you are able, water your lawn in the early morning to avoid evaporation.
- You can limit the need for sprinkling by setting your mower to cut the grass higher, avoiding excess nitrogen during warm weather, limiting traffic over the lawn, improving turf rooting, controlling thatch and soil compaction, and avoiding pesticide use on stressed lawns.
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Village of Tinley Park is one of 218 permittees for use of Lake Michigan water? The average water loss among those permittees was 12.876% (most current data available), higher than the Village’s average of 8.5%. That difference would equate to $342,026.63 of water loss in a year.
Additional Resources