Outdoor Water Conservation

People tend to use several times as much water in the summer than they do in the winter. Most of this increase in water use is due to lawn watering. Many people use far more water than needed when watering their lawn, but it is possible to have a healthy lawn without overwatering. 

Lawns & Watering

• Consider adopting a Golden Landscape by significantly reducing how much you water your lawn. Less watering means less water waste and less mowing. Details on the program page.
• Make a habit of checking the Weekly Watering Number or at the very least, the weather, before turning on irrigation. The Weekly Watering Number page has a description of evapotranspiration, and why it's important to understand when watering plants.
• Water the right amount. Overwatering not only wastes drinking water, but it can  wash away nutrients or soil amendments you have added. Deep soaks of about 1 inch once or twice a week are best. This practice encourages deep root growth, which promotes a healthy lawn.
• Be smart about irrigation.
  • The City offers a rebate for Smart Irrigation that uses weather information and timers to remove the guesswork from watering.
  • If you already have irrigation installed, check the nozzles/hose for leaks before turning it on for the season.
  • Measure how much water your irrigation system applies to dial in the timing.
  • Consider installing irrigation specifically for flowers/veggies/shrubs/trees, separate from the lawn, so each type of vegetation gets the right amount of water.  
  • If you have clay soil (many people in Corvallis do) or live on a hill, break your irrigation session into cycles. This can help eliminate runoff and maximize the amount of water that goes into the soil.
• Water only in the late evening or very early morning. These are the hours when the least water will be lost to evaporation. They are also the hours with the least wind so that your irrigation goes where you want! Early morning water is best because water washes bacteria and fungus spores off the plants.
• Depending on the type of grass in your lawn, allow it to grow taller in the summer – about 2½ to 3 inches. Taller grass blades provide shade to the roots and reduce water loss from evaporation. Aerating your lawn will help water reach the roots.
• Add water slowly to your vegetable garden, using a small droplet size. Large droplets tend to compact soil, making it difficult for roots to become well established. Most sprinklers are intended for lawns, not gardens, and tend to over apply water causing nutrients to be leached from the soil. Consider installing a drip system to slowly deliver water directly to individual plants.

Other Outdoor Water Conservation Tips

• When you need to wash your car, truck, boat, or other equipment, go to a local car wash - they make sure that soapy runoff doesn't end up in our creeks. 
• Clean gutters and downspouts by hand, instead of using a hose.
• Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly for leaks.
• Design a smart landscape. Choose native plants that use less water, and group together based on water needs to increase watering efficiency. See the Water Efficient Plant guide for suggestions. If you have a stream on your property, consider applying to our Streamside Plant Grant program! 
• See a list of tips on the Oregon Water Resources Department webpage.