Summer Tips for Water Conservation

Editor's note: The following is a press release from the Neponset River Watershed Association:

In the Yard:

• Don’t assume that your lawn needs water. Step on a patch of grass; if it springs back, it doesn’t need water.
• Pay attention to the weather forecast before you run your sprinkler. A lawn needs only about 1 inch of water per week from rain/irrigation to stay green.
• Prevent runoff by ensuring that sprinklers spray lawns and gardens, not sidewalks or driveways.
• Upgrade to a weather or moisture based irrigation controller that will automatically track the weather for you and apply just the right amount of water.
• Maintain irrigation systems on a regular basis to catch leaks and ensure even distribution of water. Do a thorough tune up and leak check each spring.
• If you work with an irrigation professional, make sure they are recognized as an official WaterSense Irrigation Partner. www.epa.gov/watersense/meet_our_partners.html
• Avoid evaporation by not irrigating when it’s windy, or in the middle of the day.
• Keep a rain gauge in the yard to monitor precipitation.
• Aerate your lawn to improve drainage and allow roots to absorb more water.
• Create a layer of rich, organic loam 6” to 8” thick to retain moisture and encourage deep roots by top dressing with compost.
• Supplement topsoil by letting grass clippings decompose on your lawn.
• Mow regularly and remove less than 1/3 of the grass each time that you mow. Taller grass shades roots and slows evaporation.
• Replace water dependent bluegrass with drought tolerant “fescue” grasses.  Overseed your lawn in early fall.
• Clean the driveway, sidewalk, or deck with a broom instead of a hose.
• Use a cover on swimming pools to reduce the loss of evaporated water by 90 percent.