• Cover pools and spas to avoid evaporation.

• Sweep your driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of spraying them off with a hose.

• Check outdoor faucets, pipes, hoses and pools for leaks.

• Change your lawn mower to a 3-inch clipping height and try not to cut off more than one-third of the grass height when you mow.

• Consider replacing infrequently used lawn areas with low-water use plants or ground covers.

• Apply as little fertilizer to your lawn as possible. Applying excess fertilizer increases water consumption and actually creates more mowing for you! Use iron-based fertilizers to simply “green-up” your lawn instead.

• Recycle and reuse the water in fountains and other ornamental water fixtures.

• Check the level in your pool using a grease pencil. Your pool shouldn’t lose more than ¼ inch each day. If it is losing more than this, check elsewhere for leaks.

• Avoid bursting or freezing pipes by winterizing your outdoor spigots.

• Use a bucket of soapy water to wash your car, or simply place a shut-off nozzle on the end of your hose.

• Collect rainwater in a reservoir. Rainwater (after a little filtering) can be used to flush the toilet or it can be fed to the washing machine. As an additional benefit, rainwater requires less washing powder because of the low calcium concentration (better for the washing machine too!).

Contents 1 Water Conservation at the Lawn, Patio, Driveway 2 Water Conservation in the Garden 3 Water Conservation using rain water harvesting

[edit] Water Conservation at the Lawn, Patio, Driveway

• Fix leaky hoses and hose connections.

• Outfit all hoses with automatic shutoff (pistol-style) nozzles.

• Adjust hose attachments and sprinkler heads to emit large drops instead of fine spray, which evaporates more easily.

• Use a sprinkler timer, but don’t overwater. Your local Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office can advice on what’s appropriate for your region.

• Position sprinklers so they’re not watering driveways and walkways.

• Hand-water with a hose where possible. Homeowners who water with a handheld hose can use one-third less water outdoors than those who use automatic sprinklers.

• Water during the coolest time of the day to reduce evaporation. Don’t water when it’s windy.

• Adjust your lawnmower to cut grass to a height of 2½ inches high. Doing so will help trap moisture and reduce the amount of watering you’ll need to do.

• If faced with watering restrictions, concentrate first on shrubs and trees, then perennials, then annuals. Unless your lawn in newly planted, let it grow brown; it will likely perk up as the weather cools.

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps instead of hosing them down.

Plant drought-resistant lawns, shrubs and plants If you are planting a new lawn, or overseeding an existing lawn, use drought-resistant grasses such as the new "Eco-Lawn". Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species. Replace herbaceous perennial borders with native plants. Native plants will use less water and be more resistant to local plant diseases. Consider applying the principles of xeriscape for a low-maintenance, drought resistant yard. Plant slopes with plants that will retain water and help reduce runoff. Group plants according to their watering needs.

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.

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 doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Letting the grass grow taller (to 3") will also promote water retention in the soil. Most lawns only need about 1" of water each week. During dry spells, you can stop watering altogether and the lawn will go brown and dormant. Once cooler weather arrives, the morning dew and rainfall will bring the lawn back to its usual vigor. This may result in a brown summer lawn, but it saves a lot of water.

Deep-soak your lawn When watering the lawn, do it 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 shallow root systems. Put an empty tuna can on your lawn - when it's full, you've watered about the right amount. Visit our [ http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_care.htm natural lawn care] page for more information. Water during the early parts of the day; avoid watering when it's windy Early morning is generally better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early watering, and late watering, also reduce water loss to evaporation. Watering early in the day is also the best defence against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water when it's windy - wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed evaporation. Add organic matter and use efficient watering systems for shrubs, flower beds and lawns Adding organic material to your soil will help increase its absorption and water retention. Areas which are already planted can be 'top dressed' with compost or organic matter. You can greatly reduce the amount of water used for shrubs, beds and lawns by: - the strategic placement of soaker hoses - installing a rain barrel water catchment system - installing a simple drip-irrigation system Avoid over-watering plants and shrubs, as this can actually diminish plant health and cause yellowing of the leaves. When hand watering, use a variable spray nozzle for targeted watering.

Don't run the hose while washing your car Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing - this simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water. Better yet, use a waterless car washing system; there are several brands, such as EcoTouch, which are now on the market.

Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks

Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they're not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors. Check frequently to keep them drip-free. Use hose washers at spigots and hose connections to eliminate leaks.

Water conservation comes naturally when everyone in the family is aware of its importance, and parents take the time to teach children some of the simple water-saving methods around the home which can make a big difference.

[edit] Water Conservation in the Garden

No or low-cost actions

• Add compost to soil to improve its water-holding capacity.

• Mulch beds to a depth of 2 to 3 inches to reduce evaporation.

• To ensure that potted plants and flowers use water most efficiently, consider using special patio pots that allow water to reach roots efficiently. Such products are available at garden retailers.
• Choose drought-tolerant plants. Perennials include coneflower, butterfly weed, goldenrod, iris, and daylily. Annuals include verbena, dianthus, and cosmos. Herbs include thyme, rosemary, lavender, aloe, and many species of salvia. As for shrubs, conifers generally use less water in the summer than flowering shrubs. Trees include Japanese pagoda, Kentucky coffee, honey locust, and Eastern red cedar.

• Put off planting major shrubs. Even drought-tolerant varieties need a season or more of intensive watering to properly develop root systems.

• Reduce the size of your vegetable garden. Plant tomatoes and herbs in pots and use recycled water on them.

• Consider buying a rain barrel to catch water from your gutter system to use on plants. A barrel that holds about 60 gallons—and includes a childproof lid—costs about $100. Most have a spigot for easy dispensing on your plants.

Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth. Adding 2 - 4 inches of organic material such as compost or bark mulch will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture. Press the mulch down around the dripline of each plant to form a slight depression which will prevent or minimize water runoff. For information about different mulch materials and their best use, click here.

Long-term investments

• Consider drip irrigation for flowers and shrubs. These systems, which can be purchased at home-improvement and garden retailers, are lengths of thin plastic tubing perforated at intervals and placed at the base of plants where the water can most efficiently penetrate to the roots.

• Develop a long-term landscaping plan that uses drought-tolerant plants. Wise landscaping can save up to 50 percent of the water you use outdoors. Change the composition of your lawn to drought-tolerant strains.

RECREATION

No- or low-cost actions

• If you’re allowed to fill your pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation.

• Fill pool a few inches lower than usual.

• Avoid water toys that need a constant stream of water.

• Don’t install or use fountains or other water ornaments unless they use recycled water.

Long-term investments

• Consider buying a pool filter that uses less water during filter cleaning. Some new filters waste no water at all.

OTHER TIPS

No- or low-cost actions

• Check your home’s water meter for system leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, then read your meter. Make sure no one uses water for 30 minutes, then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak in a toilet or water pipe.

• Participate in water-conservation programs in hotels and motels. Many lodging establishments give you ways to inform the maid that you don’t need fresh towels every day, which will save on their laundry-water usage.

• If you use a diaper service for your baby, and live in a region where water is a bigger issue than landfills, consider switching to disposables.

• Patronize commercial car washes that use recycled water. Or, wash at home, if watering restrictions permit, using a bucket of water, not a running hose.

• Investigate further. Check out the Water Saver Home, a Web site developed by the California Urban Water Conservation Council in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency. Another good source of information is WaterWiser, a site of the American Water Works Association in cooperation with the EPA and Bureau of Reclamation.

[edit] Water Conservation using rain water harvesting

Harvest rooftop rain water By connecting rain barrels or larger containers to your downspouts, you can hold water until you need it the most. Rain water is much healthier for plants than treated municipal water. Town planners and civic authority in many cities in various countries are introducing bylaws making rainwater harvesting compulsory in all new structures. In India, realizing the importance of recharging groundwater, the CGWB (Central Ground Water Board) is taking steps to encourage it through rainwater harvesting. Some of the benefits of rainwater harvesting are as follows:

• Increases water availability
• Checks the declining water table
• Is environmentally friendly
• Improves the quality of groundwater through the dilution of fluoride, nitrate, and salinity
• Prevents soil erosion and flooding especially in urban areas

Rain Water Harvesting methods

Individual houses

Grouped houses

External Links

http://www.aboutrainwaterharvesting.com/rwh.htm

http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/8-rainwater-harvesting-systems-that-make-water-conservation-fun/

http://gardenwatersaver.com/?gclid=CJaInpWO5qACFU9B6wodBV8eHw

http://www.ericwjones.com/rain_water.htm http://www.ericwjones.com/rain_water.htm