Conservation outside your home

Decide what areas you'd most like to be lush and limit your water use to these areas.
If you have a patch of grass that isn't meant for display (i.e. a backyard play area), practice "survival irrigation"—6mm - 1.25cm (1/4in - 1/2in) of water every four weeks will ensure that the grass survives.
Minimize foot traffic during drought to reduce turf damage.

The best lawns need 2.5cm / 1in of water per week.
Keep track of how much water your lawn is getting by setting out a small food tin to collect rain water and irrigation.
Established lawns can go four to six weeks without water and not suffer long term damage.
Don't worry if your lawn turns brown during dry periods. It's simply dormant and will recover with irrigation.
Ensure the placement of your sprinkler waters your lawn, not your driveway or the street.
Make sure the water you use for your lawn is absorbed. Try 20-minute intervals to allow for maximum absorption.
Even if the surface soil is dry, there may still be moisture further down where the roots are. Use a soil probe (such as a screwdriver) to check moisture levels. If you can easily push the probe 10 - 15cm / 5 - 6in into the soil, you don't need to water.

Inspect your hoses and sprinklers regularly for leaks. If a certain area of your lawn seems especially green or overgrown, you may have a leak that needs your attention.
Replace cracked hoses and clean nozzles regularly.
Store hoses away from human and pet traffic to avoid damage.

Manual sprinkler timers allow you to set the irrigation schedule based on need, rather than automatic timers that are preset based on time.
If you use an automatic timer, make sure you reset it regularly as rainfall changes.

Avoid watering your lawn when it's windy.
Water your lawn in the early morning or late evening.
The larger the sprinkler nozzle and the lower the water pressure, the more likely the drops will reach the plants without turning to vapour.

Deep roots are happy roots.
Did you know gradually decreasing the amount of watering you do encourages shallow grass roots to grow deeper? They'll become capable of living with less irrigation.
Weed regularly, as weeds leave less water for your other plants.
Rich soil holds water more efficiently than soil with clay or sand and encourages deep root growth.
Use a slow-release fertilizer to encourage growth and reduce the need for large doses of water.

Cut less often and leave your grass a little longer than usual to maintain a robust root system. For example, Kentucky bluegrass mowed to 7cm / 3in will develop extensive roots that often reach 20 - 25cm / 8 - 10in into the ground.
Increase grass height as summer turns to fall. Longer grass blades generate more energy to help the grass better survive winter.
Sharpen your mower blades at least 3 times per year to reduce plant stress.
Scatter soft grass clippings on your lawn. This will help replenish up to 40% of the applied nitrogen back to the lawn as the clippings break down. A mulching mower will help speed the breakdown of the clippings.
Keep lawn thatch down to 1.25cm / 1/2in. To break down thatch, add a thin layer of loam in the spring

Follow these tips to make them more efficient.

Adjust the direction and pressure of spraying water (such as in a fountain) to prevent splashing.
Shut off your water features when it's rainy, windy or very hot.
Pay close attention to the condition of your water features (ponds, fountains and waterfalls) to ensure they don't use more water than they should.
Use a timer to cut back on extraneous use of fountains and other features that require electricity.