Did you know that on average each American uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day?  I used at least 3 times as much water as that.  If you multiply 316 gallons of water used for each of the 28 kids in my class, then you will get the amount of water I used in a week on average.  How much water do you use in a day, week, or month?  Do research and maybe you could find out.  I know it helped me and now I am going to cut down on my water usage. 

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         Have you ever wondered if we use more water just because we live in the desert?  Well, I did.  The answer is yes and no.  We use more water but only compared to some states.  For example, Ohio uses more water than we do.  Some schools in Ohio use up to 962 gallons of water per person per day.  That’s three times as much water as I use in a day.  In Washington they don’t use as much water because it rains 9 months out of the year there.  So the people there have no problem watering crops, grass, and washing the car.  One way water is saved is through proper maintenance and water scheduling.  Did you know a 25X40-foot lawn uses more than 27,000 gallons of water per year.  Also a garden hose uses, within an hour, enough water to wash 20 loads of laundry. The cardinal rule for effective watering is to water deeply and less frequently. This will train the root system to expand and strengthen, and use water more efficiently. To follow this important rule, you can use the weather as an effective gauge for your watering schedule. Also, you should let your plants tell you when they need water. This requires you to regularly adjust when you water and how you set your irrigation timer, if you have one. A landscaper’s job is to keep your grass, shrubs and plants green. So there is a tendency to over water your plants. Let your landscaper know that you want to use water wisely. So ask your landscaper to keep your yard nice but to use water efficiently. If plants wilt in the heat, begin to lose their leaves, or are not interesting, you may need to increase the watering times. When temperatures are over 100 degrees, keep a close watch on newly transplanted plants.    

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         Efficient outdoor watering can save you time and money. All it takes is a little maintenance, letting your plants tell you when they need water, and adjusting your watering schedule.

Metro Water District hopes these facts will help you use water more wisely. They have found that many of their customers water their plants more than necessary. By following these steps you can reduce the amount of water you use and still keep your yard green and attractive. Outdoor water use can account for more than 50 % of your water consumption, even more during the summer. So take a moment, review these facts and consider how you can implement these landscape-watering tips. Well if you choose to do this, you could learn more about water and you might want to encourage others to do the same.  It made me want to after I saw how much water I used in that one week. More information on irrigation scheduling, drip irrigation systems, xeriscape and other landscape information can be found out at:

Metro Water District……………….575-8100 or www.metrowater.com

U of A/Pima County Cooperative Extension……..626-5161