Outdoor Resources

• Products
• Brochures/Flyers
• Websites
• Books
• Related Articles

Products

Because outdoor water use accounts for the most household water consumption, choosing water-efficient outdoor products can make a big impact on both your water use and your water bill.

Here are some water-saving outdoor products you can find at almost any home or garden center:

• Rain gauges: These add-ons to your irrigation system automatically shut off the system when it rains.
• Manual hose bib timers: These timers connect to a hose and automatically shut off your sprinklers after a predetermined length of time.
• Soil moisture sensors: These sensors are placed in the soil at strategic locations, and they prevent your irrigation system from starting when the soil is sufficiently moist.
• Soil polymers: When placed in the soil, these materials absorb water, allowing roots to draw moisture as needed. Polymers are most effective for potted plants or sandy soil.

Brochures/Flyers

• Outdoor Conservation Tips (PDF)
• How to Select a Landscape Contractor: Be an Informed Consumer (PDF)
• How to Select an Irrigation Contractor: Be an Informed Consumer (PDF)
• 7 Basic Steps for Creating Water Efficient Landscapes (PDF)
• Planting and Maintaining Your Lawn (PDF)
• Low water-use plants of the Portland Metro Area (PDF)

Websites

We recommend the following websites for information and links to numerous other resources:

• American Water Works Association
• Waterwiser: The Water Efficiency Clearinghouse
• EPA Office of Water
• Department of the Interior — Bureau of Reclamation
• Water Conservation Publications
• WaterWiser
• OSU Water Connection
• Water Resources of Oregon
• Clean Rivers and Streams

Books

• Recommended Reading (PDF)

Related Articles

• New Grass Blend Conserves Water (PDF)
  By Tom Krupicka
• Compost and Water Conservation (PDF)
  By Christine Hollenbeck
• Irrigation Tips (PDF)
  By Steve Carper
• Designing a Water-Efficient Landscape (PDF)
  By Dr. Steven C. Carlin, Ph.D.
• Your Green Green Grass at Home (PDF)
  By Mallory Gwynn
• Mulches for Landscape Beds (PDF)
  By James Altland
• Get to Know Your Yard and Choose the Right Plants (PDF)
  By Christine Hollenbeck
• Native Trees and Shrubs Reduce Summer Water Use (PDF)
  By Ryan Durocher
• Northwest Native Plant Ornamental Gardening without Summer Watering (PDF)
  By Wallace W. Hansen