Do you realize that most American households uses 350 or more gallons of water every single day? Everything we do depends on this precious commodity from cooking and bathing to cleaning up. Recent high-tech developments have made giant leaps towards reducing outdoor water usage with high tech rain sensors.
Daily Outdoor Water Usage
According to the EPA, almost a third, of our total daily water usage, or 116 gallons, is used for outdoor uses and about half of that amount ends up on lawns and gardens. That means 58 gallons a day to keep our lawns green and our flowers blooming. Keep in mind these are averages, in some drier climates, the average family will use closer to 70 gallons a day.
Common Sense Strategies
Some of the best ways of reducing water usage outdoors are the simplest. Start by making sure outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems are not dripping or leaking. A substantial amount of water can be lost every day from a single drip. Water only as much as needed and only when there hasn’t been any rain, otherwise, you’re just wasting water. Over-watering can cause just as much damage to your lawn and garden as under-watering and it’s just wasteful.
Install Rain Sensors
Traditionally, sprinkler systems are run on timers that automatically turn them on and off at a certain time of the day. The problem with that is that it could be raining at that time or just recently and without manually over-riding the system, the sprinklers still come on. With rain sensors installed, the sprinkler system only comes on when there is a need for it rather than every day whether it needs it or not. It’s great when you’re away from home and not able to stop the sprinklers when it’s raining.
Benefits of Rain Sensors
The benefits are two-fold. First, you’ll save money on your water bill. In fact, according to the city of Tampa, Florida; “This logical “don’t water when it’s raining” device can save an estimated 20 percent in outdoor water use and reduce your water bills”. They go on to say; “To ensure proper operations, sensors should be checked at least once annually.” A twenty-percent reduction in water usage will amount to visible savings on your monthly water bill.
The second benefit is that your sprinkler system will actually last longer. The reality is that no matter what kind of sprinklers you have installed, extended use will wear them out. By reducing the number of times the system is used, you’ll prolong its life and eliminate some of the maintenance and repairs you’d normally do. In the long run, the savings you’ll see will more than make up for the cost of the sensors.
Using technology such as rain sensors is not just a good financial decision, it’s a good environmental decision as well. In order to assure that future generations have an adequate supply of water, it’s of the utmost importance that we control our usage now. If you’ve considered installing rain sensors for your landscape and have questions, feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have.