Outdoors

Outdoor water use tends to increase by about 30% in the warmer months.

To help conserve water during these times, Sharon proactively implements water restrictions from May 1-Oct. 1, every year.

Always follow outdoor water restrictions to ensure that there is enough water in town for drinking, public health, and firefighting.

Lawn & Garden

  • Test your lawn by stepping on a patch of grass; if it springs back, it doesn’t need water. In our area, a lawn needs just 1″ of water per week to stay green.
  • Reduce the amount of grass in your yard by planting shrubs and ground cover, or by landscaping with pervious materials, such as mulch, rocks, bricks, and pavers.
  • Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone.
  • Raise your lawn mower cutting height and remove less than 1/3 each time you mow.  Longer grass blades shade roots, reduce evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.
  • Minimize or eliminate fertilizing, which promotes new growth needing additional watering.  If you fertilize, use organic or phosphate free brands, make sure to sweep up excess product from driveways, and never fertilize before a rain storm!

Irrigation

  • Redirect your downspouts toward your lawn, shrubs, rain garden or rain barrel.
  • Avoid irrigating on windy days.  Over half the water evaporates before it even hits the ground.
  • Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only—not the street or sidewalk.
  • Install moisture sensors on irrigation systems.  Relying on a simple timer to run sprinklers is not water efficient.
  • Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems, sprinklers and outdoor spigots.
  • Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems for trees, shrubs, and gardens.
  • Water trees and shrubs, which have deep root systems, longer and less frequently than shallow-rooted plants that require smaller amounts of water more often.
  • Use mulch around shrubs and plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface, and cut down on weed growth.
  • Install a rain barrel or two under downspouts and capture rainwater to use on plants and shrubs.

Around the yard

  • Sweep driveways, sidewalks, decks, and steps rather than hosing off.
  • Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.  Park the car so that the dirty runoff flows into your lawn or garden, rather than down a storm drain.
  • When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
  • Avoid purchasing recreational water toys which require a constant stream of water.
  • Use a cover on a swimming pool to reduce water evaporation by up to 90 percent.
  • Periodically check your pool for leaks, especially if you have an automatic refilling device.
  • Consider purchasing a new water-saving swimming pool filter.