Tips for Outdoor Water Conservation in Communities and Households

  

•   Avoid lawns, non-native ornamentals, and water hungry plants. 

•      Water plants early in the morning during the summer months to reduce evaporation losses. 

•    Use a watering can or mug instead of a hose and pour water around the base of the plants avoiding the stem and leaves to prevent leaf burn or primary root rot or stem infections. 

•      Water soil only to the point that the top 3-5 inches of soil are damp if watering daily and ensure avoiding over flow or over saturation of soil. 

•      Use a sprinkler that throws large drops of water rather than a fine mist if land area is large. This will reduce water losses from wind drift and evaporation. 

•     Use of drip irrigation for bedded plants, trees, or shrubs and even potted plants and vertical gardens can be considered for water saving when plantation is organized. 

•     Use mulches to help reduce soil moisture losses. This can be home-made compost, manure, wood chips, leaf litter, etc especially in the places with harsh winters and summers.

•       Do not "sweep" the driveway or sidewalk using a hose. Use a broom instead and sprinkle water after to settle dust near the home. 

•      Do not water the streets, sidewalks, and driveways to settle dust or clean. Nothing will grow a thing there and therefore there is no need of water. 

•      Use a bucket of soapy water to wash and a bucket of clean water and a sponge or damp cloth for rinsing and wiping down the car. 

•      Leave a bowl of fresh water out for birds, insects and local fauna daily. 

•     For washing hands and feet if there is a tradition of not wearing footwear in the house, store a closed bucket of water and a mug outside instead of using a running tap or hose. 

•      Design the exteriors based on natural contours to ensure retention and recharge of ground water using a combination of modern and traditional low cost, low energy, know how. Invest in rain water harvesting and ground recharge measures in proximity to the home. 

•     Avoid tarring, tiling, cementing or concreting around the home which reduces natural ground water recharge drastically and has a heat radiating effect on the home. 

•     Surround homes with trees and shrubs for shade and leave soil mulched and uncovered to ensure ground water percolation and retention.

This list is meant as a starter for those wishing to Save Water. The actionable points for Outdoors can be enforceable in gated communities by RWAs in response to the growing water crises or by self-regulation by members of the community in non-gated ones.

- Joseph T. Varghese, Author & Managing Trustee, KEYS Trust

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(Statutory warning: This blog post by no means is an exhaustive list of what can be done to conserve water outdoors. This is a representation of views & ideas that came forth from the author based on years of learning and experience. Any images used are not owned by the author or KEYS Trust and belong to their original sources and are merely used for education & visual representation purpose.Any suggestions or improvements are welcomed and any flaws in the content in terms of correction, omission or additions may be kindly excused & communicated to the author by way of email to: keystrustindia@gmail.com)