Imagine having a lush, green lawn that doesn't have a traditional sprinkler and only uses about one-third as much water.
The city of Aurora will begin testing a subsurface irrigation system on a 1,000-square-foot plot of lawn in the Kuiper Xeriscape Garden.
Rebates of up to $200 are available to Aurora residents who install subsurface irrigation systems and other water conservation products.
"Subsurface irrigation is the future of landscaping in our dry climate," said Jeff Terjal, an Aurora horticultural specialist.
"I believe this test will help our residents learn about new irrigation techniques that can cut their water use at home."
Terjal will teach a class on how to install the system at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Kuiper Garden, next to the Griswold Water Treatment Plant, 14201 E. Hampden Ave. The class is free and open to anyone.
For the test, Terjal will scrape the soil off the ground and lay the half-inch plastic tube in a circular pattern so the drip emitter holes are about a foot apart.
The area is then covered with about 4 inches of topsoil and the sod is laid on top of that.
The system runs off an automatic timer but with the water pressure reduced from 30 pounds per square inch to below 20 psi.
"The water slowly leaks from the emitters right in the root zone, where plants need water," Terjal said.
Terjal said the subsurface system is a little more expensive to install, especially if it is put into an existing lawn, where a trenching machine is needed. But because it uses less water, it will save money in the long run.
"You also don't have to worry about hitting a sprinkler head with a lawn mower," Terjal said.