Water Conservation Tips
Conserving Water Outdoors
- If you have a lawn, chances are this is your biggest water usage. Typically, at
least 50% of water consumed by households used outdoors. Inside your house,
bathroom facilities claim nearly 75% of the water used.
- When washing the car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a
shut-off nozzle for the final rinse.
- Use a broom, not the hose, when cleaning your driveway.
- Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or
street. Do not water on windy days. Check and maintain your sprinkler system
regularly. A heavy rain means you don’t have to water at all. Teach the family
how to turn off an automatic sprinkler system in case a storm comes up during
the sprinkling cycle.
- Water your lawn every third day. Always water during the cool time of the day to
minimize evaporation. Early morning is best, and the peak water consumption
hours (4 p.m. - 9 p.m.) should be avoided.
- Minimize grass areas in your yard because less grass means less water demand.
Replace with low-water use landscaping.
- Adjust your irrigation schedule to accommodate changes in seasonal water demand.
Install an automatic timer.
- Buy a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation your yard has
received.
- When mowing, raise the blade on your lawn mower to at least three inches high,
or to its highest level. Closely-cut grass makes the roots work harder,
requiring more water.
- For landscaping, use native or other low-water-use plants. Check with your local
nursery for the best native or low-water-use trees, shrubs and plants.
- Using a layer of mulch around plants reduces evaporation and promotes plant
growth. Water retaining basins also allow water to be concentrated around the
plants.
- Use the principles of Xeriscape (pronounced ZERE-AH-SCAPE). This landscaping
method uses native and drought-tolerant plants, mulch to hold in moisture, and
grouping plants according to your water and light needs. To find out more about
Xeriscape, contact the Water Information Program at e-mail water@frontier.net or
write to P.O. Box 475, Durango, Colorado 81301.
Page modified by: Emily Wilson, April 18, 2008
