Outdoor Conservation Tips

Conservation is an essential tool in managing our diverse supplies of high-quality drinking water.

Use native and drought tolerant plants that do not require a lot of water. Check out our Plant List for a list of plants that are adapted to this area.
Hardscapes can help conserve water because you irrigate one less yard area. Hardscapes with permeable materials reduces the amount of standing water and pools, which are optimal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other insects. Check out our Hardscape List.

Check your irrigation system for broken sprinkler heads, irrigation tubing, and leaks.
Check sprinkler heads, drip system emitters, and lines for breaks and cracks to avoid wasting water.
Collect Rainwater.
Buy or make a DIY rain barrel to collect water for your plants.
Install shut‐off nozzles on all garden hoses.
Make sure your garden hose has an automatic shut‐off.
Don’t water the pavement.
Position sprinkler heads to water lawns and gardens, not the pavement surrounding your landscape. Use a broom instead of hosing down a sidewalk or driveway.
Avoid runoff on slopes.
Try to avoid planting on slopes (especially lawns). If your yard or garden is already on a slope, you can reduce your watering times, so that excess water does not run off. Create basins around plants to catch water and prevent runoff.

Don’t let the water run while washing the car.
Clean the car with a bucket instead of running a hose. Wash car on grass or a permeable landscape.
Use a pool cover.
Pool covers will prevent evaporation, decrease heat loss, and keep leaves and debris out of pool.
Replace your swimming pool filter.
Sand and Diatomaceous Earth (DE) pool filters require backwashing. You can save up to 20,000 gallons a year by replacing these filters with a cartridge filter.