Water Conservation Tips

Water Conservation in Osoyoos

Water is one of Osoyoos' most valuable resources. Located in one of Canada's driest regions, our community experiences long, hot summers that place added demand on the water system. Conserving water helps ensure a reliable supply for residents, agriculture, and the environment, especially during the peak summer season.

Small changes at home, like watering wisely, fixing leaks, and using water-efficient fixtures, can make a meaningful difference when we all do our part.

How to conserve water indoors

There are two main ways to reduce indoor water use: changing daily habits and choosing water-efficient appliances and fixtures.

Simple habits can make a big difference. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, run full loads of laundry and dishes, and check regularly for leaks.

Replacing all appliances at once may not be practical, but when older appliances or fixtures need to be replaced, consider water-efficient options such as:

Low-flow toilets: Older toilets can use significantly more water per flush. Consider replacing older models with low-flow options.
Front-loading washing machines: Front-loading washers use less water than older top-loading machines and are often gentler on clothing.
Low-flow showerheads: Choose a low-flow showerhead with an adjustable spray to reduce water use without giving up comfort.
Dishwashers: Newer dishwashers often include settings for smaller or more efficient loads. Run full loads whenever possible.
Recirculating showers: These systems reuse circulated water through the fixture, helping reduce water and energy use.
Grey water recycling: Grey water systems can filter water from showers, baths, and laundry for reuse, such as toilet flushing. Installation may require a plumbing permit and backflow prevention.

How to conserve water outdoors

Know your watering restrictions: Follow the Town of Osoyoos' year-round outdoor watering regulations to help reduce peak water demand.

Collect rainwater: Install a rain barrel to capture rainwater for use on container plants, flower beds, and vegetable gardens.

Let your lawn grow longer: Keep grass about 2.5 to 3 inches (6 to 8 cm) tall. Longer grass shades the soil, retains moisture, and reduces evaporation. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to help return nutrients and retain moisture.

Keep mower blades sharp: Sharp blades make clean cuts that help keep your lawn healthy. Dull blades tear the grass, making it more susceptible to heat stress and disease.

Overseed with drought-tolerant grasses: Introduce drought-tolerant fescue varieties to improve your lawn's resilience and reduce water needs. Overseeding is most effective when combined with fertilizing, top dressing, or aerating.

Hire qualified professionals: If you're hiring a landscape or irrigation contractor, confirm they have a valid Town of Osoyoos business licence, appropriate liability insurance, and WorkSafeBC coverage. Ask about their experience, training, and references before work begins.

Xeriscape

Xeriscape is designing a landscape so that it fits within the natural environment’s climate and its water constraints. Xeriscape is a landscape that is healthy, and responsive to the Okanagan’s desert.

The 7 Principles of Xeriscaping

Planning & Design - Think about how you would like to use your property and what features it could have. For example, would you like a patio, a big shade tree, a butterfly garden, or a vegetable garden? Where do you need pathways? How much sun is there in different areas? Are there views you want to frame or things you want to hide?
Soil Preparation - Whether you have sandy soil or clay soil, the addition of organic matter such as compost and manure will help your plants to thrive. Organic matter increases moisture retention and feeds your plants naturally.
Practical Turf Areas - Have only as much lawn as you need for activities such as children’s play areas.
Efficient Irrigation - Group plants with similar watering needs in the same irrigation zone. Shaded areas need less water than sunny ones, so they need to be on different zones.
Appropriate Plant Selection - Each variety of plant has growing requirements for light, moisture and soil that need to be met for it to thrive.
Mulching - Mulch is like a protective blanket over the soil. It will conserve soil moisture, reduce weed growth, prevent a hard crust from forming on the soil surface, and protect plant roots and the soil from extreme cold and heat
Maintenance - As with any garden, it is very important to maintain your xeriscape garden, and the tasks are similar. However time and costs will be much reduced compared to conventional landscape maintenance.

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.