The RDOS recognizes that water is a valuable resource that should be used wisely. By working together to use water as efficiently as possible in regional district operations, private dwellings, agricultural operations, and commercial enterprises, the RDOS can lead the way in ensuring that its water systems  are resilient and sustainable into the future.

2017 Regional Water Conservation Strategy - Econics

Water is always an important consideration in the semi-arid climate of the southern interior region across all user groups; recreational, during the subdivision development process, in the commercial/industrial environment, utility infrastructure (purveyance), agricultural or in and around the household.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) provides residents information on water conservation and conducts outreach workshops throughout the region, especially in those communities where the district owns or manages the water system.

The Okanagan-Similkameen Rain Garden Guide Book is an example of the commitment to providing residents information on conservation, rain capture, re-use options and best practise guides. These guides demonstrate how ‘partnerships’ can broaden and improve the overall reach or effectiveness of a project, workshop series or publication. Joining with our local government partners the Okanagan Basin, other water conservation agencies and the Royal Bank of Canada’s Blue Water Project, these guide books were created to introduce the benefits  of rain gardens as ways to slow, spread and sink rain water run off back into the earth.  

These information booklets are free to download and share either in part or in whole.   

Master Plant List 

Okanagan-Similkameen Rain Garden Guide Book

Kitchen

Dishwasher: Make sure that the dishwasher is totally full when using it. Using the dishwasher to wash a full load of dishes requires less water than if you were washing them by hand. The dishwasher uses an average of 1.4% of the water consumed within a household per day.

Kitchen Faucets: By installing a low flow faucet aerator you can reduce the amount of water that flows out of your taps. Regular checks for leaks above and below sinks are also key in reducing water waste. Household faucets use about 15% of the water used in a household per day. One faucet dripping at one drip per second can waste up to 757 litres of water a year about 195 4L milk jugs!

Cold Water: Place a jug of water in the fridge. This will reduce the amount of time spent running the tap for cold water. When water has had a chance to sit the chlorine has a chance to dissipate, this will remove the chlorine flavour from the water too.

Washing: When washing dishes by hand don’t run the tap for rinsing

Fruits and Veggies: Instead of running the tap, wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan which you can then use to water indoor or outdoor plants.

Laundry

Washing Machine: The single most important improvement that can be made is to replace old washing machines with new high efficiency ones. Traditional washing machines use up 155 litres of water per load versus high efficiency machines that use only 87 Litres of water per load.

Washing full loads of laundry is the most efficient way to wash clothes, even if the machine has adjustable water levels.

Lawns

Watering Lawns: train your lawns! Watering a lawn everyday encourages shallow root growth. By spreading out the watering of your lawn you’ll encourage deeper root growth, and by saturating the soil occasionally the grass will become healthier and drought resistant. Grass generally requires 1” or 2.5cm of water per week. To measure how much water your lawn needs place a can or jar with a mark of 1” or 2.5cm on it and place it in a location that receives good sprinkler coverage. When the water is at the 1” or 2.5cm mark turn off your irrigation.

Mowing Lawns: when mowing your grass you should only be removing 1/3 of the grass stalk or keeping the grass 2.5” long. By keeping grass longer it provides more root shade, discourages weed growth, and retains more water. Mower blades should be kept sharp, dull blades rip and tare grass and it becomes more susceptible to disease. “Grasscycling” also provides free fertilizer, helps grass grower greener and denser and doesn’t cause thatch build up. Healthy lawns with deep root systems are more draught resistant.

Grass- What grass do you choose? Using low water, low maintenance grass reduces the time and effort you spend caring for your grass. Grasses such as enviro-turf or drought resistance grasses root deeper and grow slower than regular varieties.

Xeriscape Plants:

What does a xeriscape plant look like and what makes it drought resistant? When choosing a plant for your xeriscape look for the following features:

-Silver leaves- reflect light, aiding in the prevention of heat absorption.

-Deep roots- tap deeper water reserves making them more capable of retaining water and the roots keep cooler when they are further down in soil.

-Fine textured shrubs-have a reduced surface area, providing less opportunity for evaporation.

-Waxy leaves- the coating prevents water evaporation from the surface of the leaves.

-Water retentive sections- pillow like appearance such as aloe vera hold their water internally and do not have leaves. This lack of leaves helps to prevent water loss.

Visit your local garden center for more information about Xeriscape plants.

Mulch:

What is mulch? What does mulch do?

Mulch is left on the soil surface. Its purpose is to reduce evaporation and runoff, inhibit weed growth, and create an attractive appearance. Mulches also moderate soil temperature, helping to warm soils in the spring and cool them in the summer. Mulches may be incorporated into the soil as amendments after they have decomposed to the point that they no longer serve their purpose.

There are two types of mulch, organic and inorganic. Organic such as grass clippings and wood chips may provide nutrients for plant use as they decompose. Inorganic mulch includes rocks and gravel. Mulch comes in many different shapes and sizes. Determining which mulch is right for a yard is a matter of preference, appearance and landscape.

Web sites for further information

Visit the H20use

Click to link to Environment Canada