Outdoor water consumption can be as much as 1,000 to 3,000 gallons for an average lawn during a peak summer day. Water is a precious and limited resource. Let's use it wisely. Your goal, if experiencing a water shortage, should be to water only enough to keep grasses and plants alive. By gradually extending the length of time between waterings, plants have a tendency to require less water and become more drought resistant.
Turf areas require more water than trees, shrubs, and groundcover.
Different soil types have different water retention capabilities. Know your soil type. Ask your local nursery or county extension office to recommend low water-using plants and ways to increase your soil's water holding capacity. Shrubs droop as they approach an absolute need for water. The object of efficient irrigation is to water only the soil surrounding the root area of the plant.