To uphold our Core Purpose of Growing Healthy Communities, we want to encourage our customers to use water wisely. So, we have come up with some smart landscaping and irrigation tips to help you conserve water and save money this summer.

Landscaping for Water Conservation

• Aerate your lawns regularly and use mulch around plants to reduce evaporation.
• Let your grass grow to a height of 2.5 inches as taller grass shades new growth and reduces evaporation
• Keep the blades of your mower sharp as dull blades tear the grass leaving it open to disease and heat stress.
• Learn what grows best in your area.

Smart Irrigation Tips

Water and wastewater charges reflect the amount of water you consume. If you compare this to another essential household expense, like groceries, you'll notice your grocery bill displays the cost of each item you purchased, GST, and any deposit fees that apply. That's it. What you don't see detailed on your grocery bill is what goes into calculating each item's shelf price: the cost of production, packaging, labels, distribution, wages and more.

Water and wastewater charges are like your groceries - you pay for what you need. Each month, we calculate the cost by multiplying the amount of water consumed (cubic meter) by the current water and wastewater rates. We can’t differentiate between water that is coming out of your kitchen tap, water that is being flushed, or water that is being used to tend to your outdoor space, therefore all water is treated.

Pencil it in

Create a schedule to meet the specific needs of your landscape. Remember, the needs of plants vary, and this can also depend on other conditions such as time and weather.

Get in the Zone

Divide your yard into zones so each zone can be watered separately, preventing over-watering on areas that do not require it, such as trees and shrubs.

Drop in the Bucket

Use recycled/reclaimed water for small gardens and plants. Collect rainwater in a bucket or water from your sink or shower tap while you’re waiting for the temperature to adjust. This way the water will not go down the drain, but actually be very useful.

Watch the Clock

Ensure you are watering in the morning to avoid water loss due to evaporation. The best time to water is between 4 – 10am when the sun is still low, and the temperatures are still cool. Watering mid-day can result in a loss of 30% of water to evaporation.

Inspect Your Gadgets

Inspect your system on a regular basis. Checking for leaks and damaged or clogged heads help you conserve water and save!

Get Low

Consider installing a low volume drip, spray jets/misters or micro-sprinklers to slowly irrigate and reduce overwatering, runoff and evaporation.

Just What I Needed

Water only when needed. Over-watering can result in shallow roots, weed growth, fungus and disease.

That’s a Wrap

Using plumbers tape to seal the faucet connection to the hose and the hose to the sprinkler will minimize the chances of a leak.