Water efficiency outside your home
Reducing the water you use outdoors can lower your water bill.
Fusion Landscaping®
Want to create a beautiful low-maintenance outdoor space that needs less water? Learn how to design your own fusion oasis.
Tips for using less water outdoors
- Most lawns and gardens need less water than you think. Water less frequently and according to the weather for deep and strong root growth.
- Water your lawn and garden before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. This will lessen the amount of water that evaporates.
- Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. The longer grass will shade the roots and help keep moisture in the soil.
- Maintain and fix your irrigation system to ensure it’s running efficiently.
- Sweep – don’t spray. Use a broom instead of a hose to clear your driveway, sidewalk, and patio.
- Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering your garden.
- Check outside taps, hoses, faucets and sprinklers regularly for leaks.
If you have a pool, use a cover to reduce water loss. Uncovered pools can lose 30-50% of their water to evaporation. If the pool seems like it’s losing more water than usual, there may be a leak. Contact a pool service professional for help.
Other information
Follow these actions to reduce water waste from your irrigation system:
- Check the system for leaks and loose fittings.
- Make adjustments to direct the water towards lawns and gardens rather than sidewalks and your driveway.
- Schedule your system to suit the season and the weather. In the spring and fall you only need half the run time as you do on the hottest days of summer. Rain sensors prevent your irrigation system from watering during rainfall.
- Prevent leaks by properly winterizing your system in the fall. Before the first frost, shut off your sprinkler system valve and use an air compressor to blow all of the water out of the system. If you don’t know how to do this yourself, call a certified Water Smart Irrigation Professional.
- Before the growing season, complete a spring tune up: check for and fix any leaks and broken heads and check that the schedule is set properly.
Consider a Certified Irrigation Assessment
Consider getting a Water Smart Irrigation Professional (WSIP) Certified Irrigation Assessment.
Water Smart Irrigation Professionals are highly trained to provide high quality irrigation services.
They can assess how much water your system is using and how much water is needed to support a beautiful, healthy landscape.
