Making simple changes around your house can significantly lower your water usage.
Purchase Water Wise Tools
A rain barrel is used to collect and store rainwater to reuse on your garden, lawn, or hanging baskets. Rain barrels offer an efficient way to conserve water.
Cost $60, 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
Connect a timer to your hose-fed sprinkler and set it according to your allowed watering days and times to automatically turn your water on and off.
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
Proof of Coquitlam residency is required.
Where to Purchase
You can email or call 604-927-3546 to arrange payment and pickup.
Tips for a Healthy Lawn
- Aerate your lawn in the spring to allow grass roots access to air, water, and nutrients.
- Consider replacing all or part of your lawn with a grass alternative that requires less water and maintenance. Visit growgreenguide.ca for ideas.
- Gold is the new green! Let your lawn naturally go dormant in the summer by reducing sprinkling. It will turn green again in the fall.
- Harvest rainwater using a rain barrel and use it to water your lawn and garden.
- A healthy lawn only needs about one hour of watering, including rain, per week.
- Mow your lawn 3 inches high and leave grass clippings on your lawn to encourage deep roots and to minimize water loss.
- Plant your new lawn in spring or fall to encourage growth while reducing watering needs.
Tips for a Water Wise Garden
- Ask your local garden centre to recommend native and drought-tolerant plants that can survive in hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
- Cover your garden bed with mulch to minimize water loss, suppress weeds, and insulate plants in the winter.
- Group drought-resistant plants together and water-loving plants together in your garden.
- Use drip irrigation in your garden to maximize watering efficiency.
- Water by hand using a hose with automatic shut-off nozzle or a watering container instead of a sprinkler to direct water to your plants’ roots and reduce evaporation. If using a sprinkler, check regularly for broken sprinkler heads to avoid overwatering your garden.
- Weed regularly to remove weeds that can compete with your plants for nutrients and water.
- Use watering bags to water trees in the summer to encourage root growth and minimize water loss.
General Water Wise tips
- 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 shutoff nozzle.
- Shortening your shower by two minutes can save about 460 litres of water in one month.
- 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.
- Run full (but not crammed) loads in the washing machine. A full load uses less water than two half loads.
