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Suncoast Pasco News

Irrigation Guzzles Water, Lawn Program Leader Says

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: March 19, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Pop quiz time: what consumes half the water used in a typical Pasco County household?

Lawn irrigation, by far, Chris Dewey, coordinator of the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program, explained at the recent Pasco Green Workshop.

Irrigation accounts for about half of water use at a home, Dewey said.

On top of that, Florida is one of the three states that guzzle the most water in the nation, along with Texas and California. Some three dozen states face water shortages within five years, according to the federal government.

"We don't need to sacrifice our landscapes," however, Dewey commented.

He offered simple tips, including some "no-brainers."

For instance, group similar plants together, Dewey suggested. It wouldn't make much sense to grow a cactus next to a rose.

"That driveway isn't going to grow," Dewey said about overspray from malfunctioning sprinkler systems.

Sensors are available so sprinkler systems don't turn on while it's raining.

Condensation water dripping off an air conditioner can be collected and reused. Harvesting rainwater makes sense, too, Dewey continued.

In addition, micro-irrigation is catching on, Dewey said, while limiting areas that need high volumes of irrigation.

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