The Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District is asking residential customers in the County’s irrigation districts to cut back their water use by 25 percent this summer to help orchardists and make this year’s limited supply of water last longer.  The district’s Anne Saxby says that kind of reduction of water use can go a long way towards helping everyone get through the drought conditions, noting how and when you water lawns and landscaping can help make less water go further.  Avoid watering in the middle part of the day, when temperatures are their hottest.  Saxby points out that it only takes an inch of water a week to sufficiently water a grass lawn, the equivalent of a filling a tuna can.  She adds grass will go dormant in the summer and come back healthy in the fall.  Also, a good layer of mulch on landscaping will help retain moisture.