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Tips & Tools to Save Water
New Changes
The City of Coquitlam has approved its Drinking Water Conservation Plan (DWCP) Bylaw to align with Metro Vancouver’s revised regional watering restrictions that go into effect on May 1, 2022.
New changes to the water use restrictions are in effect as of May 1, 2022.
Purchase Water Wise Tools
We can all do our part to conserve our precious water supply. Coquitlam offers low-cost sales of water wise tools and simple tips to help reduce water use at home. Proof of Coquitlam residency is required.
Where to Purchase
You can email Water Conservation or call 604-927-3546 for payment and pickup details.
A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from the roof to reuse on gardens, lawns and hanging baskets.
Cost $65, tax included
Features
- 208 Litres (55 gallon) capacity - 34 inches height by 24 inches width
- Easily accommodates existing downspouts
- Made of 50% recycled materials
- Overflow capability, can be linked to another rain barrel
- Square shape and neutral colour blends into any gardenscape
- Stainless steel screen keeps out bugs and leaf debris
This electronic water timer connects between the tap and a hose-fed sprinkler system and can be set to automatically water lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs.
Cost $55 tax included
Features
- On/off button to use like a faucet
- Programmable to a 7-day watering calendar
- Uses one 9-volt alkaline battery (not included)
- Works with low pressure drip and soaker hoses
Watering Tips at Home
Below you will find tips on watering around your home.
- Aerate your lawn in spring and/or fall to give the soil access to air and nutrients. Leave the soil plugs to dry and break them up to return them to the ground.
- Plant your lawn in at least a month prior to the start of the region-wide water use restrictions on May 1 and let the rain handle the watering for you.
- Add drought-tolerant, low maintenance ground cover plants to your lawn such as microclover and thyme. Visit Metro Vancouver’s Grow Green Guide for ideas and some inspiration!
- Let your lawn turn gold in the summer. Grasses naturally go dormant during the hot, dry summer and will turn green again in the fall when heavy dews and rain return.
- In the summer, mow your lawn to keep it about 6 centimeters high and leave grass clippings on your lawn to keep it as cool and moist as possible.
- Reduce your lawn watering to about one hour of deep watering per week. Turn the sprinkler off when you see water constantly running off of your lawn.
Beautify your garden while saving water.
- Visit Metro Vancouver's Grow Green Guide or ask a local garden centre to learn more about planting native and drought-tolerant species.
- Cover your garden bed with mulch to suppress weeds, minimize water loss in summer, and insulate plants in winter.
- Grow drought-tolerant plants in one group and water-loving plants in a separate group to make watering more efficient.
- Install a drip irrigation system which sends water directly to the plant roots and maximizes watering efficiency.
- Remove weeds regularly as they can compete with your garden for nutrients and water.
- Install tree watering bags around young trees in the summer. It keeps the trees sufficiently watered and requires minimal effort.
Other ways to save water at home.
- If it doesn’t grow, it doesn’t need watering! Direct your sprinkler away from sidewalks and roads.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, decks, patios and sidewalks.
- Wash your car using a bucket of water and make sure the hose is fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
- Switch out your 13-litre water wasting toilet with an efficient model and receive a Toilet Replacement Tax Credit Rebate.
- Shorten your shower by two minutes every day to save over 400 litres of water each month. That’s over 100 milk jugs of water.
- Run your dishwasher only when it is full. A half-full dishwasher uses the same amount of water as a full one.
- Leave a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap for cold water.