With the West’s drought—and California’s historic response to it—making national news, the seeds of water conservation have been planted in the minds of homeowners and property managers nationwide. Irrigating with graywater is an opportunity for contractors 1). to potentially provide services for clients or 2). simply to educate them. Here’s an introduction to some options. read more
Houzz released its 2015 Landscaping & Garden Trends survey, which found that a third of homeowners are updating, reducing or removing their lawns due to water issues. The survey, which was sent to registered Houzz users in the U.S. in May, included results from 1,600 homeowners who completed an outdoor project in the past 12 months, are working on one,... read more
According to the Washington Post, new NASA satellite data show the world’s largest underground aquifers are being depleted at unsustainable rates. Aquifers are underground water reserves, which serve as a source of fresh water for hundreds of millions of people. In various locations, including India, China, the U.S. and more, 21 of the world’s 37 largest aquifers have passed their... read more
As water conservation efforts strengthen in California, the landscaping industry, a $25 billion industry in the state, will be forced to adapt. According to the OC Register, by removing 5.4 million square feet of turf in Orange County, 645 million gallons of water could be saved. The removal is likely, as California Gov. Jerry Brown has called for the removal... read more
April 1, California Governor Jerry Brown instituted the state’s first-ever mandatory water restrictions, NPR reports. The announcement comes as California is entering its fourth year of drought and as the Sierra Nevada saw its lowest snowpack level on record. The statewide mandate calls for reductions in water use by 25 percent for California cities and towns; new pricing structures by... read more
California issued heavier emergency drought regulations Tuesday, the LA Times reports, mainly regarding the number of days residents can water their yards. Under Tuesday’s decision, water agencies have 45 days to further limit water restrictions or they’ll be faced with a two-day-a-week restriction. Cities such as Los Angeles, which currently enforces a three-day-a-week restriction, may merely maintain those restrictions. “We are not seeing... read more
