Quick Check on Outdoor Water Use
- I have water-efficient landscaping.
- I use a broom or blower to clean driveways, sidewalks and steps. Using a hose to push around a few leaves and debris can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
- I don't let water flow down the driveway while washing my car. Using a pail of soapy water is the best way to wash the car. Then use a hose with an on/off control device to rinse it off.
- I teach children which days they can play in the sprinklers. Few things are more cheerful than the sound of children playing under a hose or sprinkler on a hot day-assuming it's your watering day.
- I water my lawn using time-saving, efficient methods and on my assigned days. For properly trained yards, twice-a-week watering is enough even during the hottest part of the summer.
Water only on your assigned days to promote a healthy lawn and because it is the law in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County. If the last number in your address is even (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8), water only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If the last number in your address is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9), water only on Sundays and Thursdays.
- I water during the cool parts of the day. Never water during the heat of the day or when it's windy. TMWA rules and local ordinances prohibit watering between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- I Water deeper and less often. Watering deeper and less often encourages stronger root systems that can tolerate our hot, dry summers and results in a healthy lawn throughout the growing season.
- I don't allow water to fill the gutter. Position sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden - not on concrete, where it does no good. Avoid watering on windy days when much of your water will be carried off before it even hits the ground.
- I check for leaks in outside pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings. Leaks outside the house may not seem as unbearable since they don't damage the floor or drive you crazy at night, but they can be just as wasteful.
- I check or readjust my automatic sprinkler timer at least once a month during the watering season. The timer should be adjusted because of rising and declining temperatures.
