Water Conservation Tips 

Water Conservation is great way to not only lower your water bill but also reduce the demand on the water system and limit the amount of water that could introduce contaminates into local streams and rivers. By following a few simple steps when watering your lawn, you can save money and help to protect the environment.

1. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering (Saves 750-1,500 gallons per month). Better yet, especially in times of drought, water with a hose. And best of all, convert your lawn to native plants.
   
   
2. Don't water your lawn on windy days. After all, sidewalks and driveways don't need water. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs--and only there (Saves 500 gallons per month). Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
   
   
3. Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering during rain falls. Teach your family how to shut off your automatic watering systems and turn sprinklers off if the system is malfunctioning or when a storm is approaching. If you don’t have an automatic sprinkler, set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden with a hose.
   
   
4. Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops of water and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground. Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. Use the sprinkler for larger areas of grass and water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
   
   
5. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
   
   
6. Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Your lawn only needs one to one and a half inches (1"-1 ½”) of water per week. If you don’t have a rain gauge place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers.
   
   
7. Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water. Water only as rapidly as the soil can absorb the water and when watering grass on steep slopes, use a soaker hose to prevent wasteful runoff.
   
   
8. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
   
   
9. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
   
   
10. Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.