Five Ways to Save Water in the Fall

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

21 Oct 2007 05:38 AM

Saving water usually means saving money. Here are five practical ways that you can use to save this resource.

Here in our county in Pennsylvania, they have put us on a drought watch. Basically, the county is asking us all to cut down our water usage by at least 15 percent in each household. Although we have gotten bursts of rain, it is the type of rain that tends to pass through strongly and quickly, instead of the kind that is gentle and sustained and soaks into the ground.

Saving a percentage of water in the fall can be more difficult than during the summer. Most of the water usage when it is cooler is focused around the inside of the home. Of course, many of us are still watering our gardens and lawns, too. So, I still want to focus on landscaping and outdoor irrigation.

Many of us water the lawn when it really doesn't need it. Save up to 1,500 gallons of water a month by doing this test. Step on the lawn. If it springs back, then don't water it.

Avoid watering on windy days, such as the ones that can occur in the fall. Wind evaporates water and can waste up to 300 gallons of the stuff each time you water.

Another way to save up to 300 gallons of water is to water your garden and lawn in the morning. The water will get a chance to sink in before it evaporates in the sun.

Save another 500 gallons of water a month by not watering sidewalks, the driveway or the gutter. Adjust your sprinklers to focus on your lawn.

And finally, one of my favorite tips. Set the blades on your lawnmower one notch higher. Longer grass equals less evaporation of the water. You'll save anywhere from 500 to 1,500 gallons of water each month, depending on the size of your lawn.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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