Water Conservation...

Jump To: Dry Weather Tips - Rainy Weather Tips - General Tips - Kitchen & Laundry Areas

Tips you can use at home to become more water efficient:

During Dry Weather

• Water your lawn once a week, but give it a thorough soaking. This will produce a deep root system and stronger grass.
• When you put out the sprinkler, put a container on the lawn too. When there is 2.5 cm (1inch) of water in the container, your lawn has had enough water to last it a full week.
• Water in the early morning or late evening for best results. (Less water is lost to evaporation.)
• Don't water too frequently. A lawn that's waterlogged can turn yellow and may develop fungus. Brown grass usually means that it is dormant, it's your lawns way of coping with the heat. Think of it as your lawn taking a long summer nap...don't worry it will wake up and turn green again.

In Rainy Weather

• After a good rain (approximately 2-3 cm or 1 inch), skip a week of watering. The rain is free, so give your water bill a break!
• Collect rain water in a rain barrel or large container and use the water on your garden. Rain water is actually better for your plants since it's at air temperature.

More tips for reducing water use (General Information)

• When you cut your grass leave it at least 6 cm (2 inches) long to provide shade for the roots.
• Leave the grass cuttings on your lawn to increase organic matter and to discourage weeds and moisture loss.
• Consider replacing your grass with drought resistant plants and ground cover. You'll save water and time spent on upkeep.
• To remain healthy, trees and bushes need water to reach deep down to their roots. The best way to give them the deep watering they need is to put your garden hose at the base of the tree or bush and turn on the tap to get three drips per second. Leave it on for about an hour for a rose bush and up to four hours for a mature tree. Move the hose around to cover the whole area under the plant.
• Newly planted trees need two to three centimeters of water per week for the first two seasons. After that, young trees only need to be watered every two weeks during a dry period.
• To cut down on water loss from splashing, don't overfill your pool. Fill it to 15 to 20 cm (7-8 inches) from the top. A swimming pool cover will prevent evaporation, keep heat in and debris out.
• Use a bucket and sponge to wash your car, then rinse quickly using a trigger nozzle on your hose. This way you can avoid running your water needlessly.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk.
• Keep a jug of water in your refrigerator. This way you won't be running the tap and wasting water to get a cold drink.

Kitchen and Laundry

Cooking and cleaning shouldn't make waste. By making a few small changes to your cooking and cleaning habits in the kitchen and laundry areas, you can drastically reduce the amount of water you use without cramping your lifestyle.

• Give your dishes a quick rinse — not a shower!
• If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, partially fill one with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If you have only one sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or in a pan full of hot water.
• If you have an automatic dishwasher, use it only to wash full loads, and use the energy saver or shortest cycle.
• Clean and cook food the wise way
• When cleaning fruits and vegetables, never let the tap run continuously. Instead, wash them in a partially filled sink, then rinse them quickly under the tap.
• When boiling vegetables, use only enough water to cover them, and use a tight-fitting lid. Steaming uses even less water while conserving more nutrients.
• The coldest drinking water comes from the refrigerator
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water gets cool each time you want some. Be sure to rinse the container and change the water every few days.
• Water should be the only thing that goes down your drain
• Never put garbage of any kind down the sink drain. Cooking fat and greases, household cleaners, paints, solvents, pesticides and other chemicals can be very harmful to the environment and your piping system.
• Reduce water flow from your taps
• Install an aerator attachment on your sink faucets and reduce water use by 25%.
• Don't let your clothes get lonely in the laundry
• Wash only full loads of laundry and make sure you don't overload. Use the shortest cycle possible. Use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has it. If your washer has an adjustable water-level indicator, set the dial to use only as much water as is really necessary.
• Use only cleaning products that will not harm the environment. Buy phosphate-free biodegradable detergents.
• One small leak can waste thousands of litres of water!
• Regularly check faucets, pipes, taps, hoses and the fittings of your washing machine for leaks and repair immediately. Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can often be repaired by replacing a washer, which costs only a few cents.
• Always turn your taps off tightly but gently so they don't drip.

Remember the wise use of water will save you
money and help improve our environment.