Conservation and drought are not black-and-white issues that can be settled merely by restricting water.
Published November 05, 2001
In our complex society, conservation and drought are not black-and-white issues that can be settled merely by restricting water use. Communities need to understand the value of water and begin to discuss how to use it differently - including the long-term cost and benefits of community-wide water recycling.
In the short term, decision-makers like you will find that being able to dispel misconceptions about water conservation and replacing them with facts is a powerful tool as you go about persuading your community to adopt sensible approaches to drought.
FACTS ABOUT DROUGHT
Drought causes annual economic losses of $6-8 billion, more than the losses caused by floods ($2.41 billion) or hurricanes ($1.2-4.8 billion). (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)
A garden hose is inefficient, because it spreads water unevenly. Watering in the heat of the day or in windy conditions wastes water, because it may evaporate or blow away.
Most established lawns, if allowed to go dormant during hot, dry weather, will rebound when rains return.
Using recycled water (treated to almost drinkable standards) on landscaping would save the United States enough fresh water in a year for everyone in New York City to take a 10-minute shower every day for 4 1/2 years.
A timed sprinkler system uses water efficiently, because it can be set to run overnight, when temperatures are coolest and the evaporation rate is lowest.
On a hot day, lawns will be 30 degrees cooler than nearby pavement, producing a moderating effect on the environment.
Landscaping can increase residential property values by 7 percent and add as much as 15 percent to the selling price of a home. (Gelman & Grey Research and Planning Services; Gallup Organization)
Water use - and waste - is determined more by people than by type of landscaping. A recent study found there was no appreciable difference between two similar-sized lawns, even though one homeowner used nearly 10 times more water than his neighbor.