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Can We Save The World ?
Reduce outside water use
On average 60% of residential water is used outside our homes, in yards for irrigating, for car washing,
and for outside cleaning jobs. 40% is used inside homes.
Click for a larger image
Water is a precious resource, use it frugally.
In the yard water sprinklers generally use water very inefficiently, a lot of evaporation occurs,
everything in their range gets water whether it needs it or not, and you water to suit the most
thirsty plants.
In the US it is possible to have a beautiful and productive yard using minimal water.
What can I do to reduce outside water use:
- Collect rain water in large rain barrels and use a watering can instead of a hose. If you prefer to
use a hose pipe, elevate the rain barrel if possible, fit a hose pipe and fit this to a trigger nozzle
to control flow, or better still use a micro irrigation system linked
to the rain barrel.
- Use mulches such as wood chips, bark or gravel, especially near thirsty plants, this helps to prevent
water evaporation and also suppresses nearby weed growth saving water and time spent weeding, and money.
- Regularly weed and hoe your yard to ensure that watering helps plants and not weeds.
- Select plants suitable for the climate and your soil conditions. If it is dry where you live plant
flowers and shrubs that thrive in hot and dry conditions such as thyme, evening primrose, rock rose,
Californian poppy, pinks, lavender, buddleia and hebes.
- Add organic matter to the soil, this retains moisture and other plant nutrients.
Sprinkler systems:
- Minimise the use of yard sprinkler systems, use water sparingly. Yard sprinklers can use much more
water in an hour than a family of four uses in a day.
- Don’t cut the grass shorter than 3 inches.
- Look into micro irrigation, this uses water far more efficiently.
- Lawns can survive long periods of dry weather if the grass is not cut too short. Even if the grass
turns brown, it will quickly recover after a few days of rain.
- Run your sprinkler system late at night every other day or once every three days for a moderate time
rather than for a short period every day, this will reduce evaporation and persuade roots to go deeper.
- If you have an automatic irrigation system adjust the watering schedule to reflect changes in the season,
the plant’s water needs, and the weather conditions.
- Group plants with similar water needs together and use micro irrigation
to water these.
- After heavy rain turn your sprinkler off for a few days.
What can I do to reduce water use on car washing and outside cleaning:
- Install rain barrels and use this water for outside cleaning jobs.
- Use a pressure washer, these use far less water.
- Minimize hose pipe use, wash you car with a bucket rather than a hose pipe, a hose pipe can use 50 gallons,
buckets 5 gallons.
- If you use a car wash find one that recycles water.
By adopting the suitable suggestions above you will reduce outside water use dramatically.
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