When you do water your lawn, water it long enough for water to soak down to the roots where it is needed. A light sprinkling that sits on the surface will simply evaporate and be wasted. Aerate and de-thatch your lawn. This also allows water to reach roots and keeps it from running off. Water during the cool parts of the day .
Early morning is better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus.
Don't water the gutter. Position your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden, not on concrete or other paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days. Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Many beautiful lush trees and plants thrive with limited irrigation.