Wise Use of Water Is Environmentally Friendly

Water efficiency plays an important role in protecting water sources and improving water quality. By using water wisely, you can save money and help protect the environment. This includes making efficient use of the water you use to keep your landscape healthy and beautiful! Efficient water use
in the landscape will lower water bills, conserve natural resources, preserve natural habitats, decrease energy use, extend the life of the nation's water resources infrastructure, and provide many more benefits.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a number of tips to help save water in your yard. A key factor to efficient landscape water use is choosing the right timer for your irrigation system. Several important timer features to look for are:

• Multiple, independent programs allow watering different areas of the yard on different days.
• Station run times determine how long an area will be watered. This is especially useful for watering different types of landscaping (turf versus trees) with different methods (sprinkler versus drip).
• Rain shut-off device capability permits attaching a shut-off device (purchased separately) which is used to automatically stop watering when it rains.

Recently a whole new generation of controllers has been gaining popularity. Evapotranspiration controllers, called ET controllers, automatically change watering schedules based upon past or historic climate conditions for a given region. The ET controller removes the burden of deciding the best watering schedule from the homeowner.

Other ways to save water in the landscape include:

• Grouping plants according to their water needs.
• Using native and low-water-use plants.
• Limiting turf areas to those needed for practical uses.
• Making sure the soil is healthy.
• Remembering to mulch.

Learn more about irrigation timers, using water wisely in the yard and the home, and other important water efficiency topics. Be kind to the earth and to your pocketbook-use water wisely. You'll be glad you did!

Courtesy of NAPSnet.

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