Water Conservation Checklist for the Home

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If you do not do or do not plan to do the task, leave the boxes blank.

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Plan landscaping and gardening to minimize watering requirements.
Use native and low water-use plants and turf.
Vegetables requiring more water should be grouped together in the garden to make efficient use of water applications.
Mulch shrubs and other plants to retain moisture in the soil longer. Spread leaves, lawn clippings, chopped bark or cobs, or plastic around the plants. Mulching also controls weeds that compete with garden plants for water. Mulches should permit water to soak into the soil.
Try trickle or drip irrigation systems in outdoor gardens. These methods use 25 to 50 percent less water than hose or sprinkler methods. The tube for the trickle system has many tiny holes to water closely-spaced plants. Drip system tubing contains holes or openings at strategic places for tomatoes and other plants that are more widely spaced.
Irrigate with the proper amount and only when necessary. Understand different water requirements of “zones” in your landscape, and check automatic sprinkler or drip irrigation systems periodically to ensure plants are receiving the water they need without being overwatered.
If you are using a garden hose or sprinkler, water the garden thoroughly, but less frequently. Don’t let water run down driveway or street.
Lawns should be watered during hours when the water system experiences the least demand—avoid watering when windy or in heat of day and keep track of the time. Set an alarm clock or timer as a reminder. A sprinkler left on overtime in one spot wastes water.
Less frequent but heavier lawn watering encourages a deeper root system to withstand dry weather better.
Collect rain water in a barrel and use it to water your garden (please note, this is not a legal practice in all areas).
Avoid planting turf in areas that are difficult to irrigate properly such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.
Aerate clay soils at least once a year to help the soil absorb and retain moisture.
Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
Emergency Situations:
If water is rationed or otherwise restricted, lawns should receive the lowest priority for outside watering. Water trees and shrubs which die more quickly without it and are more expensive to replace.
Soapy water is generally okay for use on outdoor plants. Do not use water that contains bleach or borax on plants. It could damage them. Rinse water from laundry can be used on outdoor or indoor plants.

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Adapted in part from Extension Service-USDA Program Aid Number 1102.

Texas Water Resources InstituteCooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service logoTexas AgriLife Extension Service logo

Adapted and written by Janie L. Harris, M.Ed., CRS, Extension Housing and Environment Specialist, and edited by Bev Kellner, Extension Assistant, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System, College Station, Texas.

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Last updated: 26 July, 2010

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.