How to Conserve Water: Drip Irrigation Systems

How Much Water Does the Average Lawn Use?

Over half of all outdoor water is used to irrigate lawns and gardens. It is estimated that around 50% of that water is wasted due to inefficient and improper watering techniques. For example, watering your lawn during the middle of the afternoon when the sun is at its hottest leads to much of that water evaporating before it ever makes it to the roots of the plant that you were trying to irrigate. 

Hot and arid regions, such as the Southwest United States, might dedicate upwards of 80% of their household water use to irrigating lawns during summer months. Even a small, 1,000 square foot lawn would use upwards of 300 gallons of water to deliver just a half-inch of water to the grass. This online lawn watering calculator will let you see exactly how much water your lawn requires and how much it costs to keep your grass green. 

Since a 2014 government report found that severe water shortages are expected in 40 of our nation´s 50 states within the next decade, finding ways to cut back on outdoor water use should be a priority for every home in the country. 

Are There Legal Issues Regarding Lawn Watering ?

In states and regions where water shortages are already a recurring reality, local and state governments have begun to enforce specific outdoor water use prohibitions. While it might be difficult for regulators to discover if you leave the faucet on when brushing your teeth, it certainly is easy to spot (and fine) homeowners watering their lawn during a record drought.

To name just one example, the Long Beach, CA water department recently passed a water use prohibition that limits homeowners irrigating their lawn to just three days a week. As water shortages become more common, restrictions and regulations will most likely only make it more difficult to turn on the lawn sprinklers.

What Are The Benefits of Drip Irrigation System?

So what is the alternative? Are we fated to let our lawns turn brown and dusty during the summer? Fortunately, there are other ways to deliver to your lawn the water it needs while also vastly reducing the amount of water used. 

Drip irrigation systems deliver small but precise amounts of water and nutrients directly to the plant's root zone, where water is most needed and most efficiently used by the plant. Through a complex system of lines and emitters, drip irrigation systems deliver water drop by drop and thus vastly reduce the amount of water needed to keep your lawn healthy. 

A properly installed drip irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 70% compared to the average sprinkler. A drip irrigation system can help your grass or other plants grow more quickly as the correct amount of water is delivered directly to the root zone, and nutrients can also be sent through the lines and emitters.

Economically speaking, drip irrigation systems can also save you money. One irrigation company estimates that properly watering a 75 x 100-foot lawn will cost a homeowner around $50 each month. Drip irrigation systems will reduce your water needs by at least 50%, meaning that you can expect to save around $25 each month.

What Are The Best Drip Irrigation Systems on the Market?

While you could install your own drip irrigation system, there are several high-quality products on the market today that are inexpensive enough that they will pay for themselves within a year or two due to the annual savings on your water bill. (One thing to note is that you will want to make sure there is some filter to prevent roots and soil from clogging the emitters. Netafim USA has one such technology.) Below, we look at three drip irrigation systems for lawns on the market today.