Water Use
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Water use more than doubles in the summer months from washing cars, cleaning and filling swimming pools, and watering lawns and gardens. In fact, it is the over-watering of lawns, which wastes the most water. Half the water put on lawns is wasted - lost to runoff - and too much water actually damages the health of grass.
Applying too much water to our lawns weakens the root system of grass, making it vulnerable to disease and pests. Applying a maximum of 2.5 cm (1 in.) of water per week to lawns - if it has not rained - ensures deep root growth that helps your lawn stay healthy during hot, dry spells.
When it comes to lawns and gardens, creating water efficient landscapes can also mean creating beautiful, low maintenance landscapes. Bringing about and maintaining a beautiful lawn and garden need not require a lot of water, pesticides, fertilizers and effort. By taking advantage of plants that thrive under the various conditions that exist around your property, you can create a landscape that is dynamic, beautiful and easy to maintain.
SOURCE: CMHC Household Guide to Water Efficiency