Visiting Brandon?

Water Conservation Tips


inside
Inside The Home

  • Check the toilet for leaks by adding drops of food colouring to the tank, wait 15 minutes, if you see colour in the bowl the toilet is leaking.

  • Install low flush toilets or consider placing full plastic bottles of water in the tank, away from the working mechanism

  • Avoid using the toilet for items that can simply go in the trash

  • Replace your shower head with a water-efficient model and/or take shorter showers

  • Fill the sink with hot water when shaving instead of letting the water run continuously

  • Replace any leaking faucets in the house

  • Install aerators in faucets

  • Keep drinking water in a container in the fridge instead of running the water until it is cool

  • Wash full loads of clothes and dishes or change the setting on the washer for a partial load

  • Choose to replace older appliances such as clothes washers and dishwashers with ones labelled Energy Star®


garden 

Yard and Garden

  • Do not overwater your lawn. Most lawns only need about 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water per week

  • Do not cut your lawn too short, a 3-4 inch cut will allow it to develop a deeper root system and shades the soil

  • Aerate your lawn to loosen compacted soil, this will allow air and water to reach the roots

  • Consider adding a soil amendment to your lawn to hold moisture

  • The best time to water your lawn and garden is in the early morning

  • Adjust your sprinkler so that you are not watering the street, sidewalk or driveway

  • Consider xeriscaping; landscaping or gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. There are many drought-tolerant plants and ground covers that will grow in this climate

  • Spreading a layer of mulch around plants retains moisture and reduces the need to water

  • Rain barrels collect runoff from your downspouts that you can use to water the garden

  • Clean out eaves troughs by hand rather than flushing with a hose

  • Use a broom, not water, to clean driveways and sidewalks

  • Use a bucket of water to wash your vehicle instead of the hose

  • Cover your pool to reduce evaporation