Check with the local extension service for advice on the amount and frequency of watering needed in your area. Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk. Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems. Install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems. Have your soil tested for nutrient content and add organic matter if needed.
Good soil absorbs and retains water better.
Minimize turf areas and use native grasses. Use native plants in your landscape - they require less care and water than ornamental varieties. Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone. Raise your lawn mower cutting height - longer grass blades help shade each other, cut down on evaporation, and inhibit weed growth. Minimize or eliminate fertilizing which requires additional watering, and promotes new growth which will also need additional watering.