What is the ideal height to cut the grass in the summer?
This height shades the roots, conserving water.
✓ Leave the clippings on the lawn. They provide additional nutrients.
✓ Weed regularly, they compete for water.
✓ Weed regularly, they compete for water.
PRO TIP
Consider planting micro-clover as an alternative. It stays green longer and requires less water!
How much more water does a commercial car wash use than a hose at home?
Most car washes recirculate the water.
✓ An average 300 litres are used to wash your car at home. Take it to a car wash or wash it less often.
✓ Use a spring loaded spray nozzle and rinse your car all at once.
✓ Use a spring loaded spray nozzle and rinse your car all at once.
PRO TIP
Leave it dirty. Use a sponge and water bucket to spot wash important areas like headlights, windshields and the dirtiest areas.
Identify the thirsty plants that will suck you dry.
Non-native plants like those in list “C” can be finicky and are very thirsty. Native plants are adapted and will require less care and water.
✓ Hand water in the morning when the temperature is cooler and better for the plants to soak up the water.
✓ Consider drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to plants.
✓ Consider drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to plants.
PRO TIP
Mulch is your greatest ally: 3" will help retain water and prevent weeds from popping up.
How much water does your lawn need a week?
1 hour of lawn sprinkling, which is about 1” of water, can use as much water as 25 toilet flushes, 5 loads of laundry, and 5 dishwasher loads combined!
✓ Leave an empty tuna can on the grass to measure 1” of water.
✓ Adjust the sprinkler to water grass and plants only.
✓ Adjust the sprinkler to water grass and plants only.
PRO TIP
GO FOR GOLD! Don't water at all and let your grass go dormant in the summer, it will turn green again in the rainy season!
If every detached house in Vancouver had one rain barrel, how much water could we collect each time it rained?
29,000,000 litres — enough to give almost 96 bottles of water to each person living in Vancouver. Burp!
✓ Use rain barrel water for your garden plants. It’s easier on new plants and seedlings.
✓ Use rainwater to wash your dog on the grass.
✓ Put an open tuna can on the lawn when watering and shut off the water when the can is full.
✓ Use rainwater to wash your dog on the grass.
✓ Put an open tuna can on the lawn when watering and shut off the water when the can is full.
PRO TIP
Get rain gutter diverters and direct them to your garden area for hands-free watering.
Which are the water saving devices?
Saving water can be easy and inexpensive. Most of these things you already have!
✓ Spring loaded spray nozzles save water by shutting off automatically.
✓ Tighten hose connectors to prevent leaks.
✓ Mulch in the garden reduces evaporation and also prevents thirsty weeds from popping up.
✓ Put an open tuna can on the lawn when watering and shut off the water when the can is full.
✓ Tighten hose connectors to prevent leaks.
✓ Mulch in the garden reduces evaporation and also prevents thirsty weeds from popping up.
✓ Put an open tuna can on the lawn when watering and shut off the water when the can is full.
PRO TIP
Clean the driveway or patio with a broom instead of a hose. You'll save hundreds of litres of water and get a bit of a workout at the same time!
Up to 10% of your treated drinking can vanish. How is this so?
Up to 10% of water loss can be accounted for by leaks around your yard.
✓ Check dripping taps and tighten where needed.
✓ Replace worn out rubber washers.
✓ Replace worn out rubber washers.
PRO TIP
Use mulch and water plants in the morning to avoid water loss to evaporation.
Drip irrigation delivers water...
Water is delivered directly to the plants and root systems with an adjustable flow rate: Less waster and more even watering!
✓ Improve the soil with compost and peat moss to retain more water.
✓ Adjust timer and flow for rows of thirstier plants.
✓ Give your plants some elbow room! Space them widely and keep weed-free so that roots don't compete for moisture.
✓ Adjust timer and flow for rows of thirstier plants.
✓ Give your plants some elbow room! Space them widely and keep weed-free so that roots don't compete for moisture.
PRO TIP
Just a mild wind can cause moisture to evaporate 300 times faster. Plant a few rows of sunflowers to shield wind.
How much lemonade should we drink each day in the summer?
The average person drinks 1.5 litres of water a day, and that's exactly what our excellent tap water is for!
✓ Our treated water is best used for drinking, cooking, and cleaning! So enjoy a cold glass or two to cool down, invite a neighbour over for a drink and share some neighbourly advice on how you take care of your yard and what you've learned.
PRO TIP
All of the water wise decisions you make contribute to meeting our goal of reducing water consumption by 33% from 2007 levels.
Congratulations!
You've accomplished everything on your list.
Now it's time to see how well you kept the level of water in the reservoir.
Your reservoir level is currently ...despite your great water saving efforts!
Help us keep the resevoir full by sharing with friends.
Now it's time to see how well you kept the level of water in the reservoir.
Your reservoir level is currently ...despite your great water saving efforts!
Help us keep the resevoir full by sharing with friends.
Which tip did you find the most helpful?
Trim lawn to 2"
Use a car wash
Plant native plants
Let your grass turn gold
Use a rain barrel
Check for leaks
Use a spring loaded spray nozzle
Try drip irrigation and mulch
Stay hydrated
