A Guide to Help You Become a Water Conservation Champion! For further water conservation information contact Water Conservation at 604-885-6806 or visit www.scrd.ca/water-conservation
Table of Contents Toilets... P 1 Commercial Award... P 2... P 3 Clover... P 4 Mulching... P 5 Golden Lawn Award... P 6 Lawn Watering... P 7 Rain Sensors... P 8 Outdoor Water Use... P 9 Rainwater Harvesting... P 10 Rain Barrels... P 11 Conservation While Travelling... P 12 Other Conservation Tips... P 13
Toilets The SCRD wants to help you Save money and water at the same time! The Sunshine Coast Regional District s Toilet Rebate Program helps residential water customers switch their conventional toilet (13 liters per flush) for a high efficiency toilet (4.8 liters per flush) by providing them with a rebate of up to $200.00 per toilet replaced (lifetime maximum of 2 per household). By making this switch households will save 8.2 liters per flush! For further details on the program and how you can start saving water & money check out www.scrd.ca/toilet-program. P 1
Commercial Award Want Your Business to be Cool This Summer? Find out how efficiently you use water by signing up for a free water assessment! The Industrial-Commercial-Institutional (ICI) Award system assesses Sunshine Coast Regional District water-using businesses on their water consumption. The award system is based on four-tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) and looks at various conservation minded aspects including efficient appliances, innovative thinking, and employee behaviour regarding water conservation. Once assessed, a written report including comments on how you can further improve your general operating practices will be provided. This award will help improve your business public image through recognition in the local newspaper, and at SCRD booths at public events. You can let everyone know that your business has taken that extra step by displaying your award certificate and window decal at your business! For details on how to get your business assessed please visit www.scrd.ca/award-programs P 2
What s popular and green? Not an over-watered lawn in the summer! only need about an inch of watering per week, which usually only takes about an hour. But my lawn is still not green! If this is true, it is probably due to other factors: A lack or minimal soil base adding top soil or compost can assist in creating thicker soils that can hold water better. The grass is too short try mowing your lawn higher at 2.5-3 inches. This shades the roots, keeping them cool and reducing evaporation. Watering schedule water deeply and infrequently to promote deep roots. The reason why we have so many hours of watering is for convenience, not necessity. Watering twice a week for less than an hour should be more than enough. Most plants will thrive with far less water than we currently use. If you are still unsuccessful, then do as Canadian Winter Olympic athletes would and go for the GOLD. It s natural and conserves thousands of liters of water every month. P 3
Clover Feeling Lucky? Get some clover in your lawn! For many years, clover in the lawn was commonplace and even sought after for its radiant emerald color. However, with the introduction of broad-leafed herbicides, clover has been viewed as an unwanted weed. But is clover really that bad? Consider this: Clover is much more drought-resistant than traditional grass variations, which means that it stays greener longer in warm weather without having to use as much water. It s resistant to dog urine. It releases nitrogen into the soil which is a beneficial nutrient for grass. Larger leaves shade the soil keeping it cooler and moist. It has one of the best flowers for bees (something we need with rapidly declining numbers in bee populations). It s soft on the feet. P 4
Mulching Saving Water in Your Landscaping? Many landscape owners believe that water is the only solution to healthy plants. However, like humans, plants also need nutrients (food) to survive. What can be used to feed your plants? Try organic mulches! Shredded leaves, grass clippings, compost, bark mulch, straw, seaweed (natural slug repellent) all degrade over time, releasing valuable nutrients back into the soil. When mulches are in use they also retain moisture longer meaning less time spent watering. And it gets better! In the winter mulches act as insulation to protect your cherished plants from the elements. Remember: Overwatering actually removes nutrients from your soil. Use water only when necessary! P 5
Golden Lawn Award Go For The Gold! Letting your lawn turn golden is a positive way to help reduce water consumption outdoors and could get you the Golden Lawn Award! This award is distributed to members of the community who refrain from sprinkling their lawns during the summer months, turning their lawn golden brown. By letting your lawn turn golden brown you are allowing it follow its natural process while conserving thousands of litres of drinking water! Other benefits of a golden lawn include: More drought tolerant lawn: less watering naturally makes the roots deeper resulting in heartier plants. Less mowing: grass does not grow as much when you don t water it, saving you time and money on fuel. More time: less time is needed to monitor sprinklers and irrigation systems. If you would like further information on this award program or details on how to receive this award please visit www.scrd.ca/awards-programs P 6
Lawn Watering Confused About Lawn Watering? Here is what you need to know about Sunshine Coast Regional District s (SCRD) watering times! SCRD Bylaw 422: Revised Water Rates and Regulations (1995) states: Posted sprinkling restrictions must be followed Watering restriction violations are enforced Drought Management Plan The SCRD established the Drought Management Plan in 2002 (amended in 2014) to outline watering restrictions. Included is information on what you can water and when. Where can these restrictions and stages be found? On the SCRD website In the Coast Reporter under the SCRD Bulletin To improve your conservation while watering get sprinklers with regulators to prevent inefficient misting. If you do sprinkle your lawn, be sure to do it in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation by up to 75%. P 7
Rain Sensors Nothing Can Be More Surprising than seeing an irrigation system working on a rainy day! Installing a rain sensor on your irrigation system offers so many benefits including: Prolongs the life of your irrigation system because it doesn t need to run as often Reduces nutrient loss as a consequence of increased surface runoff Conserves municipal water supplies Improves root health, depth and reduces lawn susceptibility to disease by preventing overwatering. While hunting around for the best deal on rain sensors for your system, here are some tips you can apply to your irrigation or sprinkler system right away. The lower to the ground the better. Less travel time by water means less chance of evaporation and displacement by wind. Always check timers on irrigation systems regularly to make sure they are following sprinkling regulations. For manual watering systems, set the timer on the stove to remember when to turn the sprinkler off. Fix your sprinkler if you notice water flowing down your driveway or sidewalk. P 8
Outdoor Water Use Have Fun While Reducing Water! Pool time! When you are not using your pool, put a cover on it - this reduces evaporation drastically, but also keeps bugs and leaves out. A covered pool also stays warmer longer. Make sure to check pool equipment such as filtration systems and water inlets on a regular basis for signs of leaks. Dusty Car? When washing your vehicle have a sprayer on the end of the hose; this increases pressure and reduces washing time. Make sure to use a bucket and sponge rather than letting the water run while washing. Wash your vehicle on the lawn or gravel driveway rather than on pavement to reduce water waste. It also waters your lawn and keeps harmful cleaning agents out of our water system! Outdoor Maintenance When tidying up your yard use a broom to sweep sidewalks and driveways rather than using the hose. This saves about 200 L of water each time! While you are outside make sure to check hoses/taps for any leaks. P 9
Rainwater Harvesting Has All The Rain Got You Down? Why not use it to your advantage? Rainwater harvesting is not a revolutionary idea. In fact, it has been used for about 2,500 years for a variety of purposes such as agriculture, drinking and cooking. Here are some ways that can get you started harvesting rain: Form depressions around plants so falling water will be channeled towards their roots. Have a rain barrel or two to collect water for drier times. Plant gardens on level surfaces so rainwater can absorb into the ground, rather than draining away. Once you see the potential of rainwater and yearn for a more advanced system, other options become available. Large storage tanks can take water from your gutters and hold it to use for irrigation, flushing toilets, and in some cases, be purified for drinking. If you currently have a rainwater harvesting system, we would love to hear from you! The more information we can get and pass on to others the better. Bring on that rain! P 10
Rain Barrels Thinking Outside the Bucket! The Sunshine Coast is known for innovation, creativity and originality, particularly when it comes to water conservation techniques. Rainwater use is still not very common on the Sunshine so when a successful example arises, it s a real treat! At one Sunshine Coast household, the resident placed rain barrels in a row to capture more rain (photo illustration). To prevent mosquitoes from breeding, a simple piece of fabric was placed on the opening. When operational, the water containers can supply much of the resident s gardens with water. This resident also used bathwater as an irrigation tool. Using a hose from their upstairs bathroom, the bathwater is drained outside onto the garden. Not until you see how many plants you can water do you realize how much water is actually used in a bath. Learn to make your own rain barrel at www.scrd.ca/water-conservation P 11
Conserve While Travelling Conserve Water Beyond the Sunshine Coast Whether you are on the Sunshine Coast this summer, or taking a road trip around BC, the practice of water conservation must not be forgotten. Our water is part of the global system. Here are some tips that work anywhere you go: Consider reusing hotel towels all they have had on them is water. Drop tissues into the trash can rather than flushing them away. When lathering up in the shower, turn the shower off you will be amazed at how much water you save. Many hotels will change bedding daily if you are staying for more than one night, request no room service. P 12
Other Conservation Tips Let s Take Steps Now to Conserve Water! More conservation tips to help you conserve water. Turn the tap off while you are brushing your teeth, washing your hands, or shaving. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap for a cold glass of water. Replace your showerhead with a high efficiency one. A fiveminute shower with a standard showerhead uses 100 L of water while a five-minute shower with a high efficiency showerhead uses 35 L of water. To get the most out of every wash cycle only turn on dishwashers and clothes washers when they are full. To preserve water quality and the environment, avoid using harsh chemical cleaners; instead, try friendly alternatives such as vinegar or baking soda. P 13