We
feel proud that we can make our customers
lives easier and help the environment
at the same time. Obviously synthetic
grass does not require one drop of
water while natural lawns in California
are taking a big bite out of the deteriorating
water supply. With growing population
in the Southwest the water problems
will continue to magnify. Home lawns
to strain California water supplies
July 2006 U.S. Water
News Online
CALIFORNIA
-- Thirsty grass is expected to strain
water supplies in California over
the next 25 years if nothing is done
to reduce outdoor water use, according
to a new study.
The growing number of single-family
homes with lush lawns, especially
in the Central Valley, is projected
to significantly increase the state's
water demands, according to the report
by the Public Policy Institute of
California. The amount of water used
by California's cities and suburbs
could increase from 8.9 million acre
feet in 2000 to 11.9 million acre
feet in 2030, the report said. Urban
areas account for about 20 percent
of the water used in California, while
agricultural accounts for the rest.
The typical inland home uses two to
three times as much water as the typical
coastal residence because a greater
share of inland housing is made up
of single-family homes with lawns,
according to the report.
California is projected to add about
11 million new residents by 2025,
and at least half of them are expected
to live in inland areas. "Do
the math," said PPIC economist
Ellen Hanak, who co-authored the study.
"We're facing the prospect of
many more people, with more lawns
and gardens, in the state's hottest,
driest regions. That adds up to a
lot of water."
