Landscape Watering
Understandably we are watering our lawns to get them greener. But as we observe neighbors watering with their irrigation systems, it appears that lots of people haven’t fully addressed
the scheduling of their irrigation. Typically when irrigation systems are installed they are set to water a little more liberally. This is often a daily schedule. This will result in an
immediate improvement of the look of the lawn, but ultimately results in high water usage and frequently a pretty soggy lawn. Also if you haven’t noticed, water is getting more expensive,
primarily from charges passed on from the West Harris County Regional Water Authority. So along with that and watering daily might get expensive.
According to the AgriLife Extension Service out of Texas A&M, the reality is daily watering is not recommended. You want to apply about a half inch to an inch of water when you water
that soaks the soil deeply. Then allow it to dry out for a while, bringing air back into the soil before you give it another good thorough soaking. This saves water and helps develop a
good deep-rooted resilient turf.
If you haven’t reviewed the settings on your irrigation system lately, take a look and try resetting it to a schedule that will deep water and then dry out a little and not only will
you save water and money, but your lawn should be just as green. As conditions change, don’t forget to review the setting again to address the changing conditions.
At no time during the year should landscape irrigation occur during the middle of the day. Irrigating should not occur between the hours of 9:00am and 7:00 pm.
Myths & Facts About Water
Myth: Shortages are a temporary problem
Fact: 40 of 50 States report that they now have or will have water shortages within the next 3 years.
Myth: Water flows uphill toward money.
Fact: By 2020 there will be $533 billion needed for drinking water & clean water infrastructure needs.
Myth: New growth is already efficient to reduce needs.
Fact: Studies show that new homes are using 12-60%more water than existing homes. And with only 1/2of the homes that will exist in 2030, that is significantly more usage.
Myth: We manage our irrigation.
Fact: 30 to 60% of urban water usage is for outdoor irrigation. Sprinkler systems are becoming the norm for new home construction. The systems are typically set to the factory
default or the initial setup and run on automatic without regard to existing weather conditions. Thus, irrigation is done whether it is needed or not.
Myth: Water efficiency can’t produce water.
Fact: Efficiency extends the usage period of existing water, thus allowing for natural regeneration and reducing the need for providing new water sources.
Myth: Water & energy are different problems.
Fact: Water and energy savings go hand in hand. You run one full load of laundry vs. small loads you save the energy and you use less water. Also less energy is used to produce
and treat the water because less has to be produced and treated as wastewater.
Myth: Green Buildings will solve our water problems.
Fact: The Green Building movement has been addressing primarily energy needs and CO2emissions. Only recently has water been added to the mix.
Myth: The consumer understands.
Fact: The average US consumer is not aware of their own usage amount and is completely unaware of shortage issues, supply problems or Economical efficiency opportunities.
Myth: Water is already too expensive.
Fact: The great majority of water is priced on a flat or decreasing scale thereby encouraging more usage. Water that is priced on an increasing scale has been shown to decrease water usage as a total cost incurred.
Myth: Our system has low leaks.
Fact: Water losses exist both in the transmission system as well as throughout the consumer’s own water systems. These leaks, seemingly minor can be major consumers of water. Ask any resident that has discovered a small
leak in their system how much difference it made in consumption and cost after it is fixed.