Outdoor water use can account for up to 50 percent of your water use in the summer. Reducing or eliminating grass can reduce your outdoor water use. This rebate is available for homes with and without existing landscaping.
You can receive a 50 percent rebate on the purchase of:
rocks
drought-tolerant ground cover, including micro clover or lawn replacement blends
artificial turf
rubber mulch
hardscapes (concrete slabs do not qualify)
A maximum of $150 is available through this rebate. The following conditions apply:
front and backyards only
no side yards, but corner lots will be considered
materials purchased after January 1, 2023 are eligible for this rebate
Using wood mulch as ground cover reduces the need for watering and reduces soil erosion. You can receive a 50 per cent rebate on the purchase of wood mulch, to a maximum of $100. Wood mulch purchased after January 1, 2023 is eligible for this rebate.
If you have an undeveloped lawn and want to try something different, fescue sod is a great option. Once established, fescue sod requires no watering beyond what nature provides.
You can receive a rebate of $75 for every 500 square feet of fescue sod purchased, up to a maximum of $300. Fescue sod purchased after January 1, 2023 is eligible for this rebate.
Collecting and reusing rainwater can reduce your utility bill. You can receive a 50 per cent rebate on the purchase of a rain barrel, to a maximum of $50 per barrel. There is a limit of three barrels per application. Rain barrels purchased after January 1, 2023 are eligible for this rebate.
You can easily reduce household water use by replacing your old toilet with a new high-efficiency model. 4.8L-per-flush, WaterSense-approved toilets are eligible for $50 on the purchase price.
The following conditions apply:
maximum three toilet rebates are allowed per household
homes built after 2006 and new basement developments are not eligible
toilets purchased after January 1, 2023 are eligible for this rebate
The average ENERGY STAR Most Efficient clothes washer uses just 42 litres of water per load. Compare this to the average 140 litres used by standard non-efficient machines, and you can save about 70 per cent on water per load by upgrading.
The purchase of an ENERGY STAR Most Efficient clothes washer is eligible for a $100 rebate. Rebates will only be issued for washing machines that are Most Efficient-certified by ENERGY STAR. Please check the complete list of machines that meet these criteria.
Please note that homes built after 2014 are not eligible.
Washers purchased after January 1, 2023 are eligible for this rebate.
Naturesaping
Water conservation through creative landscaping
Did you know?
Once established, a carefully and thoughtfully naturescaped area will be virtually maintenance free, usually within one or two seasons
Many indigenous species of trees and shrubs will not need more water than nature provides once they have established an extensive root system (usually two growing seasons)
It's more than just a lawn. Whether you call it xeriscaping (xerosis Greek for dry) or naturescaping, you can create an attractive landscape that saves time, money and water. Water-wise gardening isn’t just for seasoned gardeners. Just follow these basic steps:
Group plants with similar light and water requirements together (some plants will need more water to get started than others). Grading the garden to collect moisture will also help those plants get enough water. Direct downspouts into your garden or rain barrel, not onto the street.
If you are building a new garden or improving your existing one, look carefully at drip irrigation systems. With a timer and some imagination, you can ensure your plants get all the moisture they need when they need it – even if you are away from home. Be sure to water only during the appropriate watering hours, check the system for leaks and test your backflow prevention device annually.
Where possible, replace turf with tiered gardens, raised beds, flowering trees, berries, native shrubs or perennial ground cover that you will not have to cut. If grass is needed, select a drought tolerant seed mix or fescue sod, and let it grow 7.5 centimetres high to shade the roots and hold soil moisture. Cutting too short and too often, will damage what little lawn you have left.
Bark and wood chips on the surface reduce evaporation and increase soil moisture retention, while also suppressing weeds. Try a mix of colours and textures to add interest.
Though not recommended for planting areas due to high heat absorption, decorative rock can provide contrast and texture to your landscape.
Soil conditions vary widely in Cochrane, and sometimes across a single property. When you dig, examine the soils you have and work to improve them. Local soils often need help from mulch, compost, conditioners (manure, sand, perlite, etc.), or aeration to grow plants more effectively. Sandy soils drain quickly. Clay soils may not. What soils do you have on your property?
Carrots, tomatoes, blackberries, herbs, onions, rhubarb, peppers, and Saskatoons can do very well here, depending on the site and the tender loving care they receive. Hungry yet?
Ready to plant?
Think “Big Picture”. Gardens may take years to develop (that’s half the fun). Think in three dimensions and keep the finished product in mind. Start your planting with large features such as trees, raised beds, or stonework, then move on to shrubs, flowers, and ground cover. Using Zone 2 and 3 planting material will ensure a hardy and prosperous nature scape.
Native trees are usually a good choice because they are used to the local conditions and resistant to diseases and insects. Be sure the selection suits the site. Leave ample room for growth. Talk to an experienced local landscaper or arborist for tree planting advice.
Kentucky bluegrass is not native to our region. Cochran’s climate is dry and does not provide ideal growing conditions for Kentucky Bluegrass.
Any monoculture lawn (only one variety) is susceptible to drought, pests and disease. Shallow rooted grasses need a lot of water to maintain that “golf course green” look. Often a mix of fescue, ryegrass and other local grasses is a better choice because of root depth and drought tolerance. Also remember you will have to cut that lawn sometime. The more you water, the more you cut!
Avoid building too many surfaces that do not allow rainfall or melting snow to penetrate. You need that moisture on your property, not in the storm sewer.
Wear gloves, use proper tools and watch for buried objects and remember to click before you dig.
Cochrane’s residential water use rises by as much as 30% in the summer months. Some of that precious water evaporates before people or plants can use it or runs down the sidewalk into the storm drain.
A naturescaped yard reduces your water bill, eases demand on the Cochrane’s water treatment and distribution system while supporting community sustainability.
We share the Bow River with many other communities and stakeholders. Naturescaping helps ensure there is a reliable supply of water for domestic use, power generation, waste treatment, agriculture, firefighting and recreation. We need to leave water in the Bow River for aquatic life, riparian vegetation and wildlife habitat.
Go ahead – try naturescaping. Your neighbours, children and the Bow River will thank you for it!
