In summertime, the use of the distribution networks of water of the municipalities doubles. It is the season when the citizens sprinkle their lawns and gardens, fill up their swimming pools and wash their cars. During certain periods of weak rains, the water supply networks are strongly solicited and the municipalities must impose restrictions on the level of usage.
Advice is provided by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) on its Website.
To allow our lawns and gardens to survive and support the dryness while minimizing waste of water it is enough to follow some advice:
1- Before sprinkling, always take into account the quantity of water which Lady Nature poured on your lawn or your garden during the previous week. Leave a water container to measure this on your land in order to be able to check the rainwater level (empty it once per week), and take the advice below which will help you to determine the quantity of water that you must add. Also do not forget to abide by, if it is necessary, the restrictions in force in your municipality.
2- Sprinkle early in the morning, before 9 a.m., in order to reduce the evaporation and the reddening of the leaves by the sun. Sprinkle in calm weather to prevent that water is not carried by the wind or that it evaporates.
3 - Locate your sprinkler or your pipe so as to avoid sprinkling hard surfaces, like your access road for the car or the patio. To show negligence by wasting water, is the same as throwing money in the water.
4- Sprinkle slowly to ensure you that the water does not run simply away and is absorbed by the ground.
5- Regularly check your pipe or your system of irrigation in order to detect leaks or blockages.
6- Store rainwater which runs from your roof in a barrel or another large container, covered by a mosquito-net fabric. Direct the rain descent of your gutter in the barrel or the container.
7- Choose an efficient system of irrigation. By laying out a porous pipe at the base of the plants, you apply water directly to the soil, where it is necessary rather than on the leaves, which reduces evaporation. The systems of irrigation emitting droplets or a water net are very effective because they sprinkle slowly and convey water directly to the roots under the surface of the soil, which supports their deepening and improves resistance to the dryness of the plant. If you use a sprinkler, choose one provided with a timer and which sprinkles close to the soil.