NOW IN STAGE 3 WATER CONSERVATION ~
ONE DAY A WEEK OF OUTDOOR WATERING
How Businesses Can Save Water and Money
Many of the same conservation tips that apply at home can be used to conserve water in the workplace as well.
Irrigation Tips for Saving Water at Commercial Properties
Use Only What You Need
Apply only enough water to moisten the root zone of your plants (6 to 8 inches deep), too avoid runoff, and then allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.
Program a Controller
Use an irrigation controller and make sure it is programmed correctly. Set it to adhere to your once-per-week designated watering day. Zones shouldn’t run for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Shorter times can be used for areas that need less water.
Install a Soil Moisture Sensor
Soil moisture sensors are available at garden and hardware stores and ensure that you aren’t over watering your lawn or garden. For possible rebates, see our resources page.
Don’t Water on Windy Days
Wind can blow water onto areas that you don’t intend to water, such as sidewalks, driveways and streets. Heavy wind also results in extreme evaporation.
Maintain Your System
Irrigation systems can be the biggest waste of water. Make sure to replace any broken heads and watch for misdirected heads that may be spraying water on the street, sidewalks, or driveways. For possible rebates on water-efficient upgrades, see our resources page.
Use Soaker Hoses to Prevent Runoff
Soaker hoses are great for use around trees, bushes and flower beds. These types of hoses are permitted without restriction, are extremely water efficient and minimize evaporation. They are also perfect for those hard-to-water places between sidewalks and the street.
Landscaping tips for saving water at commercial properties
Leave your Grass Longer
Taller grass holds moisture better. Don’t cut more than 1/3 of its length at one time. Shorter grass results in quicker dehydration of the soil.
Aerate your Lawn
Aeration is perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This allows water to soak into the ground benefiting your lawn. It also prevents unnecessary water runoff.
Don’t Bag your Grass Clippings
Leaving your lawn clippings as “mulch” instead of bagging, returns valuable nutrients to the soil and it’s less work for you.
Mix Compost Into your Soil
Help your soil hold more water by placing at least a 6-inch layer of soil with high-quality compost mixed in.
Use Drought Tolerant Plants
Drought tolerant plants are beautiful as well as water thrifty. You can see a vast selection of these native plants on our resources page.
Mulch Around Plants and Trees
Keep soil moist and protect roots from the heat by placing a 2-to-3-inch layer of mulch. Avoid having the mulch directly touch the tree trunk in order to prevent rotting from constant moisture. Mulch also helps prevent runoff and controls weeds.
Do not overwater your lawn
Watering too much can result in diseases for lawns and foliage and can also cause mold. Why pay for more water than what your lawn and plants need?
Water Saving Tips Inside Commercial Properties
Repair Leaky Faucets ASAP
A tiny drip makes a big difference. A 1/16” stream of water wastes almost 25,000 gallons per month.
Fix Running Toilets
A leaking toilet can lose thousands of gallons per month. But they are easy and inexpensive to repair. Make sure the flapper is working properly; you don’t necessarily have to hear a toilet running for them to be losing water.
Install Water Efficient Fixtures
Low-flow shower heads, faucets and aerators save a lot of water and still provide the pressure and flow you need. Fixtures with WaterSense labels are certified to be 20 percent more efficient than the average plumbing fixture.
Scrape Before Dishwashing
Use a rubber spatula to scrape dishes before washing and use the quick wash setting. This will use less water and your dishwasher won’t work as hard.
Install Low-Flow Toilets
Replace older toilets with high efficiency ones (1.3 gallons per flush) or install water displacement devices in the tank to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.
Never Flush Trash
Never dispose of garbage in the toilet. It wastes water and results in damage to private property and city wastewater lines.