“Spring is the perfect time to get your garden ready for summer’s dry weather,” said Glenn Pruim, director of the City of Carlsbad’s Utilities Department. “Even though we’ve received a lot of rain this winter, the region still needs to conserve.”

Carlsbad relies on water from the Colorado River and Northern California for 100 percent of its supply. Both of these sources are limited due to a prolonged drought along the Colorado River and environmental restrictions on water pumped from Northern California.

To save water outdoors:
•Select drought tolerant plants and replace water thirsty grass. Visit www.thegarden.org for a list of Nifty 50 plants
•Apply a two- to three-inch layer of mulch to hold moisture in the soil
•Set sprinkler timers to the minimal time needed to sustain plants. Use the landscape calculator at www.bewaterwise.com for watering advice
The Carlsbad Municipal Water District, a subsidiary district of the City of Carlsbad, provides free in-home water audits to help residents save more water. Make an appointment by calling 760-438-2722. Wait times vary from a couple of weeks to more than a month, due to high demand. Don’t want to wait? Visit the city’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/cityofcarlsbadca to view a video version of the indoor and outdoor water audits.

“With just a few small changes, you can save a lot of water,” said Pruim. “Carlsbad’s done a great job conserving, and we need to keep it up.”

For more information
Visit www.carlsbadca.gov/water for more tips on how to save water.