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.
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