Easy

• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks. 
• Showering your lawn for one hour a week is all it needs. Lawns only need 2.5 cm (one inch) of water per week which should take about an hour to water. This will help produce a deeper root system which is less likely to be damaged by drought. 
• Don't ignore what nature provides for free. If it rains 2.5 cm you won't need to water. 
• Avoid watering on windy days.
• Don't water the gutter! Position your sprinkler so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. 
• Cut your grass higher than usual. Taller grass holds water better. 
• Leave your grass clippings on the lawn. Clippings provide mulch and help retain moisture. 
• Get out your gardening gloves. Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water. 
• Limit your fertilizer use. While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. 

Intermediate 

• Make sure your garden hose has a nozzle that allows you to stop the flow of water. 
• Use sprinklers that throw big drops. Smaller drops of water and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
• Water in the early morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. It's better than watering at dusk and helps prevent the growth of fungus on plants. 
• Mulch. Put grass clippings or wood chips around trees, shrubs and plants to help retain valuable moisture. 
• Check for leaks. We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes and hoses for leaks. 
• Use a rain barrel. Save money by reducing your monthly water bill. 
• Plant a rain garden.
• Leave the kiddie pool empty. Rather than filling a pool for your children to cool down in, let them play in the sprinkler while you water the lawn. 
• Avoid installing water features that spray water into the air. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation. 

Advanced

• Encourage your friends and neighbours to be part of a water-conscious community. 
• Advocate for including bioretention areas as part of new developments.
• Give your car a sponge bath, not a shower. Clean the car with a pail of soapy water. Only use the hose to rinse off the suds. 
• Update your sprinkler. Switch to a sprinkler with a timer built in or purchase a timer that can be attached directly to your faucet. 
• Hydro-zone your yard and garden. Group plants with the same watering needs together to get the most out of your watering time. 
• Ecoscape your yard. Consider incorporating alternatives to lawn, such as rocks, bark and other mulches, into your landscape. 
• Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface. 
• Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Plants that are native to Alberta are adaptable to drought and cold. 

Every drop counts!