 sizzling summer days call for wise water use with temperatures in the portland metro area flirting with triple digits over the weekend and into next week conserving water is especially important outdoor water use is up and there s no rain in sight to replenish supplies we can all do our part to use water wisely here are 8 easy tips to get you started  adjust your sprinklers so that they re watering your landscape and not your sidewalk or street water lawns and gardens early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is minimized water in several short sessions rather than one long session to allow for better water absorption and to prevent runoff on average lawns need 1 inch of water per week  though you may need to water more in hotter weather use the consortium s weatherbased weekly watering number to find out how much your lawn or garden needs each week  adjust your mower to a higher setting  a taller lawn provides shade to the roots and helps retain soil moisture so your lawn requires less water if you handwater your plants  be sure to install a shutoff nozzle to avoid water waste sweep your driveway or sidewalk rather than using a hose it s good exercise and saves water find out more tips for conserving water outdoors here   