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Step 1
Reduce lawn space. Lawns are huge water guzzlers and albeit we are conditioned to think of them as being a necessary part of a good landscape, they are nothing more than habits -- and bad habits in areas of low rainfall. Use a lawn only where it has a real useful function, like a child play area. And use some of the newer water-saving irrigation systems available.
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Step 2
Landscape with drought-tolerant and native plants. It is the design of a garden that makes it beautiful. A well-designed garden with water-wise plants will be far more striking than a dully-designed garden with the most flamboyant flowers available. And if you design and plant your garden to withstand your climate and weather naturally, not only will you save money and reduce maintenance, but your garden will look spectacular when everyone else has to let theirs die into dust should water rationing go into effect.
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Step 3
Ways to set up your house to reduce water usage are:
**Use low-flush toilets or add ballast like a filled container to your tank.
**Turn off bathroom, sink and kitchen water when you aren't using it. Don't leave it running even if it's just for a moment. It adds up.
**Take shorter showers and turn off water while lathering up.
**Repair leaks. Even the little drips drain precious water -- and elevate your bills.
**Set up to use 'gray water': for example have your washing machine spread out the draining water on a lawn area rather than piping it into the sewage system. Check with local building codes and regulations for this one. -
Step 4
Other ways to save on water without really disturbing your lifestyle are:
** to wash your car with a bucket and sponge.
**Or consider saving rain water. You can buy rain barrels. I set out big tubs where the water runs off the roof and re-use it for houseplants and spot watering on dry days outside.
**Build outdoor drainage that leads to a collection area where you can re-distribute the water in drier times.
**Use permeable paving so the water goes into the ground rather than washing away.
**Build moats around the base of trees so water will collect and sink in rather than just wash away. -
Step 5
These are just some suggestions you can use to make your water go further. If you get used to living in a water-aware mode, you will not suffer if water rationing becomes mandatory!
Comments
kerryg said
on 1/6/2009 Great tips! In a bad economy like this, getting rid of your lawn not only saves money on water bills, but also on grocery bills, if you replace it with a vegetable garden. I dig up more of mine every year! :)