Outdoor Water Conservation
- In the summer, lawn watering and other outdoor uses can account for up to 50 percent of home water use. Studies show that as much as half of this outdoor use is wasteful. As a general rule, 2 to 3 cm of water per week is adequate.
- Don't over water your landscape. It can cause yellowing leaves or poor plant health. Give plants only the amount of water that they need.
- Set sprinklers to water the lawn, not sidewalks and driveways.
- Check your sprinkler or irrigation systems regularly for any leaks, and fix them.
- Use low-angle or pulsating sprinklers that produce large fat droplets of water. Sprinklers that spray the water high into the air or produce a mist or fine spray lose much of the water through evaporation.
- Be sure your hose has an automatic shutoff nozzle to ensure water is not wasted when the hose is left unattended.
Planting
- Add two to four inches of organic material, such as peat or compost, to the soil. Greater soil depth will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture.
- Use water-wise plants. Native and adaptive plants will use less water and be resistant to local plant diseases and pests.
Car Washing
- Using a running hose to wash your car can waste about 400 liters of water. Using a bucket with a sponge plus a trigger nozzle on the hose will save you about 300 of those liters.
Pool
- If you own a pool, be sure to use a pool cover when it's not in use. This will cut down on evaporation losses and will keep it cleaner and warmer. Check equipment such as filtration systems and water inlets on a regular basis for signs of leaks.
Rain Barrel
- Collect rain water in an old barrel or other large container that is outfitted with a spigot and a suitable cover, and use the water on your garden. Use this water as an alternative to turning on the hose for newly transplanted material, window boxes, flower pots and container gardens. Rain water is actually better for your plants as it does not contain any chlorine and is at ambient temperature. Keep your rain barrel covered to prevent mosquitoes breeding and for safety reasons.
