Landscape Committee: Water Conservation

Water conservation is a key issue in the Niguel Shores Community. Choosing the most efficient irrigation system is always being evaluated. As part of the turf reduction project, the irrigation system along the walk ways has been changed from spray to drip. The benefits of the change to drip irrigation are described below.

Saving Water: Drip irrigation applies water only where it is needed, with less runoff and evaporation. Drip systems water at a slower rate. This way the irrigation can be absorbed by the soil rather than a runoff.

Saving Money: Low flow drip irrigation systems will save money by significantly lowering water waste. Typical spray heads are 60%-70% efficient, where drip irrigation is 90% efficient.

Spray heads tend to overspray the landscape beds and cause long term damage to surrounding hardscape.

Long Life: The new products are designed to withstand the toughest conditions in both residential and commercial installations.

They are manufactured from high quality, durable plastics and contain added quantities of the compound Carbon Black, making them resistant to the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays. Also the emitters are coated with root deterrent chemicals to prevent roots from entering the emitters and clogging them.

Less Maintenance: Directly watering the roots also inhibits germination of weeds because the area between plants is not wet, as it is with a sprinkler system. The water is directed to the plants only.

Better Looking Plants: Watering only the base of the plants at a slow rate reduces the amount of “pests” found on the plant. When a plant gets wet consistently through overhead irrigation this allows weeds, bugs and fungal pathogens like powdery mildew to thrive. Drip irrigation prevents this by only watering the root zone and keeping the foliage dry and healthy.

Independent studies continue to demonstrate that drip watering promotes better plant growth and health than other methods of irrigation. Plants receive water in precise measured doses, never too much and never too little, and moisture in the root zone can be maintained at a consistent level. This allows the roots to grow deeper and healthier which allows the plant to survive longer between water cycles.

Eliminates Overspray and Runoff: Sprinklers often apply water where it’s not wanted, onto walkways, driveways, fences, walls and windows. Not only does this waste water, but it can even be a nuisance. In addition, sprinkler distribution can often be blocked by foliage or other landscape structure which interferes with the plants receiving the water where intended.

—Steve Schinhofen, President

Harvest Landscape

 

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