CARIBOO CHILCOTIN CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Unit 102
197 2nd Ave North
Williams Lake, B.C.
V2G 1Z5
Ph/Fax: 250.398.7929 ccentre@ccconserv.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Diana French, President
George Atamanenko, VP
Alice Stoddard, Treasurer
Nancy LeBourdais, Secretary
Dave Neads, CCBAC rep
Michael Atwood, Director
Sue Hemphill, Director
For files in PDF you will need this (free) application
Water Wise
The Williams Lake area is breathtaking with many varied ecosystems all reliant on one thing, water. The Williams Lake's Water Management and Conservation Plan (PDF) makes clear that the area is currently operating at capacity and needs to reduce their water consumption by 6% over the next ten years, and 22% over 20 years. Water Wise has begun an extensive educational outreach campaign to deliver the message of water conservation to Williams Lake and area. We aim to lower water usage and create an environment of sustainable water usage. There are several methods used to connect with residents and encourage sustainable water use. People are responding well, as more and more realize that we all need to save water.
The Water Wise project teaches ways to conserve water and encourage everyone to become Water Wise today. Working within schools and with children, going door-to-door to provide residents with methods to reduce water usage at home, and challenging residents to minimize their water usage with contests like the Shrink Your Footprint and Win Challenge!, Water Wise is the beginning of a life long campaign. Water Wise offers tips on how to plant and maintain a beautiful low water outdoor garden, providing Xeriscape information and plans a 'hands on' workshop on Xeriscape in the spring!
Become Water Wise Today!
There are many ways to easily save water. Here are the top ten inside as well as in your yard. Try these tips today to do your part, and take action by taking our
Shrink Your Footprint Challenge!
There are many easy ways to save water. Here are the top ten indoor and outdoor tips.
Try these tips today to do your part, tell a friend and take action by taking our Shrink Your Footprint Challenge!
Top Ten Ways to Save
OUTDOORS
Lawns: when cutting set your blades high, longer grass provides shade, protects the roots and prevents water evaporation. Keep the blades SHARP, as dull blades will tear and damage the grass causing them to then use more water than a healthy lawn. When choosing grass seed grasses such as bluegrass and ryegrass are good drought and disease-hardy choices for our area.
Step on your grass! If it bounds back, do not water, if it does not, it needs approximately ½ an hour three times a week for this area, varying somewhat depending on location (sun or shade), soil type and competition (ie trees and shrubs). City Counselor Jon Wolbers has said during this hot dry summer he took the tips, reduced his water usage, and his lawn looks great!
Make sure you're not watering concrete, set your sprinklers only on what needs water (water by hand when possible). Use a BROOM to clean sidewalks and driveways, not the hose!
Don't use sprinklers as toys and water early in the mornings in possible. OBEY water restrictions!
Wash your car with a sponge and a bucket, not a running hose.
Lawns are not natural ecosystems, as they are one species covering a large area which encourages insects and weeds. Instead, consider ground covers, trees and flowers, drought hardy, of course. Check out our Xeriscape information!
Use drip irrigation at the roots of bushes, vegetables, and any bed instead of sprinklers. Different trees require different water schedules; learn about the requirements for your trees.
Mulch with leaves or straw to retain moisture in the soil surrounding bedding plants, and take the grass catcher off your lawn mower. Grass clippings work as great compost, once the sun and rain break them down.
Have your sprinklers on timers.
Collect rainwater and use it to water.
INDOORS
When doing laundry or using a dishwasher be sure to do FULL loads, not partial ones.
Choose showers over baths when possible.
When showering, shorten your shower by one or two minutes.
Time your shower with a shower timer or alarm for 5 minutes (it's longer then you think, try it)
Put a filled water bottle in your toilet tank
Install a low flow showerhead
Only flush when necessary, don't use the toilet as a tissue dispensary.
Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth, wash your hands, shave, etc.
Install a low flow toilet
Keep a bottle of water in your fridge for cold water, don't run your taps for it.
Gardening in Dryer Times - Try a Xeriscape Garden!
Planning your garden, adding to or wanting to re-do an area? Why not consider planting an easy maintenance garden area where little watering and weeding are needed?
With hot, dry summers usually in the forecast, it may be time to reconsider the 'large lawn' and try something new. A xeriscape garden will allow you more time to enjoy your garden, and takes less time and money to maintain. The word xeriscape comes from the Greek word "xeros" meaning dry and "scape" from landscape. In a xeriscape landscape, plants that are native to our drier area and need less water are a good choice. Native trees and shrubs also offer local wildlife familiar and varied habitat.
There are many ground covers, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that do well in dry climates. Contact our Water Wise staff for more details on specific plants.
When planning your garden, consider grouping any plants that need more water in one area, preferably on the north or east side of your house or slope in your garden. For the very hot dry areas of your garden, consider succulents. Succulents prefer a lean (no compost) well-aerated, gritty soil with good drainage. You need only water these plants during prolonged drought.
If you currently have a large lawn, think of reducing it to a size that meets your requirements and try to avoid narrow strips. When planning a lawn, bluegrass lawns can go dormant (brown off) for several months during warm spells with little or no long-term damage. A good alternative to a lawn is planting ornamental drought hardy grasses and ground covers. The ideal soil for water conserving landscapes, achieved by keeping your soil well aerated and increasing the organic material, is one that drains well and stores water.
Once your xeriscape is set up, water only in extended periods of drought. Over watering will contribute to rapid growing, weak plants, leaching out the goodness from the soil and predisposing your garden to insect/disease problems. Frequent, shallow watering, destroys deep roots of lawns and garden plants, leaving only the shallow surface roots, which are susceptible to draught. Lawns in our area do well with a once a week deep watering (30 minutes is usually enough) or a ½" of rain every two to three days. You can tell when your grass needs watering - when walked on it should spring back, if not it is time to water. Let your lawn grow longer, 3" is good, as taller grass keeps the soil cool and growth slows down as it gets taller, so less cutting.
Watering trees will depend first on the type - is it a drought hardy Douglas Fir, Mountain Ash or Sumac? For these trees only in extreme drought do they need water; you need only look at the forests they are thriving in. With trees that need more water, be sure to mulch the ground around them, but do not cover any visible roots or the trunk. A rule of thumb for watering your garden trees that need moderate watering is ten gallons of water for each inch diameter of tree trunk, once a week for small trees, once every ten days medium trees and once every two weeks for large trees. With a soft spray wand this would mean for a tree with a 2" diameter, five minutes with a soft spray wand, ten minutes with a soaker hose or ten minutes with a small sprinkler set at its base. Realize that the less lawn and garden to cut, weed and water, means more time for you to enjoy your garden!
In the classrooms, students learn about the chemistry of water, watersheds and take measurable challenges, learning through doing. An extensive Teachers Guide, for our area, has been developed and is given to all teachers participating in the program. At Gavin Lake, each class is briefed on water conservation, while water wise site signage in washrooms, showers and kitchen, remind residents to conserve water. Displays and signage on water facts and salmonids in the area bring the significance of water in the ecosystems at Gavin. Garden rain collection and a xeriscape garden demonstrate alternative, water friendly landscapes.
Water Wise is also being presented to children's groups, high schools, the Elder College and Thompson Rivers University.
An important part of water conservation education is the recognition that all species are reliant on healthy watersheds. From the smallest invertebrate to the mighty salmon, the industrious beaver to the mighty grizzly bear, we all need clean water to survive.
Please call 398-7929 to book a presentation for your youth group or view the Water Wise Teacher's Guide. We also offer an adult presentation as well as a spring xeriscape (low-water-use gardening/planting) workshop.
Jessica Knodel, Water Wise Project Director
Jenny Howell, Water Wise instructor
Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society Unit 102, 197 2nd Ave North Williams Lake, B.C., V2G 1Z5
Phone/Fax: 250 398-7929 • ccentre@ccconserv.org • Coordinator: Marg Evans
Original material in this website may be reproduced in any form without permission on condition that it is accredited to the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society, with a link back to this site or, in the case of printed material, a clear indication of the site URL. We would appreciate being notified of such use. Although care has been taken in preparing the information contained in this web site, the CCCS does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy thereof. Anyone using the information does so at their own risk and shall be deemed to indemnify CCCS from any and all injury or damage arising from such use.
The Williams Lake area is breathtaking with many varied ecosystems all reliant on one thing, water. The Williams Lake's Water Management and Conservation Plan (PDF) makes clear that the area is currently operating at capacity and needs to reduce their water consumption by 6% over the next ten years, and 22% over 20 years. Water Wise has begun an extensive educational outreach campaign to deliver the message of water conservation to Williams Lake and area. We aim to lower water usage and create an environment of sustainable water usage. There are several methods used to connect with residents and encourage sustainable water use. People are responding well, as more and more realize that we all need to save water.
There are many ways to easily save water. Here are the top ten inside as well as in your yard. Try these tips today to do your part, and take action by taking our
With hot, dry summers usually in the forecast, it may be time to reconsider the 'large lawn' and try something new. A xeriscape garden will allow you more time to enjoy your garden, and takes less time and money to maintain. The word xeriscape comes from the Greek word "xeros" meaning dry and "scape" from landscape. In a xeriscape landscape, plants that are native to our drier area and need less water are a good choice. Native trees and shrubs also offer local wildlife familiar and varied habitat.
Once your xeriscape is set up, water only in extended periods of drought. Over watering will contribute to rapid growing, weak plants, leaching out the goodness from the soil and predisposing your garden to insect/disease problems. Frequent, shallow watering, destroys deep roots of lawns and garden plants, leaving only the shallow surface roots, which are susceptible to draught. Lawns in our area do well with a once a week deep watering (30 minutes is usually enough) or a ½" of rain every two to three days. You can tell when your grass needs watering - when walked on it should spring back, if not it is time to water. Let your lawn grow longer, 3" is good, as taller grass keeps the soil cool and growth slows down as it gets taller, so less cutting.
Water Wise is also being presented to children's groups, high schools, the Elder College and Thompson Rivers University.
Can you minimize your water use?