• Water your landscaping during the cool of the day: Watering landscaping in the early morning or late evening reduces water waste through evaporation and avoids peak use times of day, which helps us stabilize water pressure. Also, be sure your watering schedule complies with the city’s year round out door water use restrictions. Watering during the early morning or late afternoon is generally better. Promote deep root growth by keeping water on sight. As a rule, water 10 minutes cycles per station.
• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings: Water running from a leaky hose creates unnecessary water waste. Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad, since they’re not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks inside. Check these areas frequently, and keep them drip free.
• Water your lawn only when it needs it: A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it does not need water.
• Deep soak your lawn: Make sure you water long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots, where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage a shallow root system.
• Don’t water the gutter: Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days. It is against the law to let water run of property at any time while watering out doors.

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• Use a quick action shut-off nozzle on your hose and a bucket of water when washing your car: Use a quick action shut-off nozzle on your hose and a bucket of water when washing your car: Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water, and then use a hose with a shut-off nozzle to rinse. Using a hose without a positive shut off nozzle waste water. If possible, wash your car on the lawn. The soap will not harm the lawn and you will keep the soapy water out of the positive storm drain or rockwell. Water going down storm drains or rockwells is not treated, flowing directly into our rivers and streams. Be careful what you put in our rockwells and storm drains it will eventually end up in our waterways and ground water. Car wash facilities recycle their water.

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• Use a broom to clean your sidewalks and driveway: Use a broom to clean your sidewalks and driveway: Using a hose to remove dirt and leaves from the sidewalks or driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water and will end up going into our storm drains and rock wells. This practice is prohibited in accordance with city ordinance. Dry-clean these surfaces using a broom. It is also good exercise.
• Plant drought-resistant trees and plants: Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants: Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture, and it discourages weed growth and soil erosion too!
• Plan plant groupings by water needs: Place plants with similar watering needs together, and try to place plants with high water needs in areas that receive more water naturally.
• Reduce grassy areas: Although pretty to look at, grass requires the most water—about three to four feet of water per year! When you do plant grass, consider drought tolerant grasses. Separate grassy areas from shrubs and ground covers, so they can be watered separately.
• Think shade: A tree’s shade reduces both soil and air temperatures, which in turn reduces the moisture loss of nearby plants.

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• Plant drought-resistant trees and plants: Plant drought-resistant trees and plants: Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants: Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture, and it discourages weed growth and soil erosion too!
• Plan plant groupings by water needs: Place plants with similar watering needs together, and try to place plants with high water needs in areas that receive more water naturally.
• Reduce grassy areas: Although pretty to look at, grass requires the most water—about three to four feet of water per year! When you do plant grass, consider drought tolerant grasses. Separate grassy areas from shrubs and ground covers, so they can be watered separately.
• Think shade: A tree’s shade reduces both soil and air temperatures, which in turn reduces the moisture loss of nearby plants.

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• Keep a pool covered when it is not in use: A pool cover helps reduce water evaporation and keeps the water clean. When purchasing a pool cover ask about the algae proof covers.
• Play carefully in the pool: Splashing in the pool can result in precious water loss. Pool water, evaporates quickly on hot pool decking, do not be wasteful!

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