Outdoor Water Conservation

Practice wise water use through efficient lawn, garden, and landscape design and maintenance.

Water-efficient gardens

1. Assess your landscape:
   1. Soil type: Assess your soil.
      1. Submit a sample to a certified agricultural professional.
         OR
      2. Complete a home assessment using a mason jar. 
   2. Climate and light exposure: Note areas of direct sunlight, shade, wind and precipitation.
   3. Drainage: Understand your property's elevation and soil type.
   4. Usage: Identify your lawn and garden's water needs.
   5. Select native, drought-tolerant plants.
2. Consider plants that are:
   1. Easy to maintain
   2. Tend to attract birds and beneficial insects
3. Use a rain barrel.
4. Use attractive, colourful low-water demand landscaping and shrubs:
   1. Scree gardens: Gravel and rock formations that improve drainage at the base of a slope
   2. Groundcovers: Prevent erosion and weeds, great for difficult areas
   3. Shade gardens: Variety of shaded plants that trap moisture and limit evaporation

Automatic irrigation systems

Poorly designed, installed or maintained irrigation systems can result in significant over-consumption of water. If you are installing or maintaining an automatic irrigation system, ensure that:

• Your contractor is certified with the Irrigation Association and provides feedback on the efficiency of your irrigation system
• You have a rain sensor
• You and your family know how to operate the system
• You regularly check for leaks and overwatering
• You use water-efficient products and layout