22 — Friday, June 26, 1992 - North Shore News

Lots of ways to cut back on water use

UPON MOVING to our new house at the end of Febru-
ary, my mate embarked on an intensive Power Smart
campaign that had him cruising the aisles of local hard-
ware stores in a frenzied search for halogen lights and
water aerators for the showerheads.

He turned down the
temperature on the hot water tank
and scorned the toaster oven in
favor of the more efficient
toaster. | tried to keep up.

His efforts paid off, though. I
got our account statement from
B.C. Hydro this morning, and, al-
though we had been charged
about $325 for power since we
moved in (based on the power use
of the previous owners), we have
only used $158.33 worth of power
to date.

Granted, the mild spring has
helped with the heating costs. But
much of it is thanks to making a
conscious effort in even just a few
areas.

So excited was I by this news
that 1 was all set to sit down and
write a glowing column promoting
the benefits of energy efficiency.
But with the temperature reading
outside nearing 40°C, resulting in
the near-depletion of my personal
energy reserves, any mention of
home energy efficiency brings to
mind thermostats and hot water
tanks and makes it even hotter
than it is.

So it seemed much more ap-
plicable and appealing to discuss
water conservation today, given
the wariness with which the
Greater Vancouver Water District
is watching our’ water reservoir
levels. ,

Reader Rosemary Swinton sent
in a number of water-saving tips
published by the Water Conserva-
tion Coalition of Puget Sound
(hence the imperial measure-
ments).

They and others I’ve read say
that lawns should be watered only
one inch per week, both to save
water and to encourage the grass

- to develop a deeper, healthier root
system which in turn results in less
water dependence.

‘They also make the point that
run-off from overwatered lawns
carries with it precious topsoil, as
well as pesticides and fertilizers
that pollute waterways.

To find out how much sprinki-
ing results in an inch of water,
follow these steps.

Peggy
Trenceil-Whittaker

ECOINFO

1. Place several tuna cans or
similar containers around your
lawn. .

2. Turn on your sprinkler for 15
minutes. .

3. Measure the water depth in
the cans with a ruler and deter-
mine the average depth.

4. Use the chart printed here to
find out how long to water if you
water once, twice or three times
each week. © .

5. Make sure you put your tuna
cans in the blue box, not the. gar-
bage!

There are other tips to consider
when watering your fawn and
garden, as landscaping often
receives more water than is neces-
sary;

When water conservation is
especially important, gradually ex-
tending the fength of time between
waterings makes the plants require
less water and helps them become
drought-resistant.

Here are some ather pointers to
consider.

@ Do not apply water more rap-
idly than the soil can absorb it.

@ Turn off your sprinkler at the
first sign of saturation or run-off
to allow the first watering to soak
in. Water again in an hour or two
if needed.

e@ Watering should be done in the

Pancake breakfast kicks:
off Canada Week Parade

THE NORTH Vancouver
Host Lions Club is pres-
enting its Canada Week
Parade on Saturday, June
27. .

The festivities begin at 8:30
a.m. with the Lions’ Pancake
Breakfast, which is a popular an-
nual event held at 14th Street and
Lonsdale Avenue in the Civic
Centre.

After breakfast people can stroll
up the street to watch the
children’s deccrated bicycle con-
test, which begins at 9:30 a.m at
the Super Valu store located at
1632 Lonsdale Ave. Kids can enter
to win prizes and trophies for the
best-dressed bikes.

The parade begins at 10:30 a.m
at 13th Street and Grand Boule-
vard, travels west along [3th
Street to Lonsdale Avenue, turns
north on Lonsdale Avenue to 18th
Street, travels west on 18th Street
to* Jones Avenue and proceeds
along to Mahon Park.

There will be 60 parade entries
consisting of bands, marching
units, decorated floats and

clowns. Awards and trophies for
best parade entries will be pres-
ented at Mahon ,Park following
thé parade.

in attendance will be North
Shore MLAs. Jeremy Dalton,
Daniel Jarvis and David Schreck
as well as North Vancouver City
Major Jack Loucks.

The Lions club will also present
its 10th annual Canada Day bir-
thday cake at Lions Gate Hospital
on Wednesday, July 1. North
Vancouver MP Chuck Cook will
be present during the celebration,
which will include the distribution
of cake to all patients.

QUE
Stationery « Cards
Jewelry © Gifts

Papermaking kits
etc.

PAPER-GO-ROUND |
S Lonsdale,
{close to Quay)

988-9932

evening or during early morning
hours when evaporation is least
likely to occur. Unlike sprinklers,
drip irrigation and soaker hoses
may be used during the day with
minimal loss due to evaporation.

@ Reduce turf area or use
groundcovers or mulches instead
of turf. Generally, groundcovers
require less water than turf area.

@ Aerate compacted soil to in-
crease water penetration. Aerating
should be done only during the

spring months or after fall rains”

resume.

INCLUDES

© Complete system check

© Front wheel bearing service
*® Machining of front rotors

@ Installing new metallic pads
® Topping up fluid

© Complete road test

ALL SEI

@ Eliminate weeds. They compete
with grass and plants for water.
@ Use mulches, such as bark,
sawdust or compost, to help
planting beds retain moisture.

@ Make sure that your sprinkler

Average depth in cans
after 15 minutes:

Once per week
Twice per week

INCLUDES
© Install new flui
Clean seréens
© Full adjustment
New pan gasket
* Complete road test
© C/V joint inspection
e Full r

system is in good repair.

We in the Lower Mainland are
water hogs. We each use about
779 litres of water each day com-
pared with the 450 litres used dai-
ly by each Edmontonian.

— Brakes .
— Custom and
dual exhaust
— Automatic and
Standard: .
transmissions
— Clutches and
all drive-line
_ components,
—25 Ton... . £
motorhome and .4
truck hoist’ =f
— All work .-
guaranteed _
* May not be combined
with any other offer.
Expires June 15/92
Most cars & fight trucks.

VISIT US AT OUR
LOCATION

_ Moved to Serve You Better

11 stores down from Woodwards
Department Store

Inside ‘Park Roya! North Mall

Still offering Private Collision and
Comprehensive with Free Emergency Koad
+ Service to qualifying buyers.
tag oyal Insurance

Canada

Joe
Amey

Lorraine
Bullock

Clinger

Michele
Davies

For Ali
Your
Insurance
Needs

Park Koyal North (inside)

Fadi
Moodad

922-9321