Education
Facts About Water!
- Of all the earth's water, 97% is salt water found in oceans and seas.
- Only 1% of the earth's water is available for drinking water. Two percent is currently frozen.
- About two thirds of the human body is water. Some parts of the body contain more water than others. For example, 70% of your skin is water.
- A person should consume 2 ½ quarts of water per day (from all sources of water, food, etc.) to maintain health.
- You can survive about a month without food, but only 5 to 7 days without water.
- In Rhode Island, each person uses about 71 gallons of water a day at home.
- More than 13 million households get their water from their own private wells and are responsible for treating and pumping the water themselves. In Rhode Island, approximately 10% (100,000 residents) of households get their water from their own private wells.
- Typically, households consume at least 50% of their water by lawn watering. Inside, toilets use the most water, with an average of 27 gallons per person per day.
- The average five-minute shower takes between 15 to 25 gallons of water.
- An automatic dishwasher uses approximately 9 to 12 gallons of water while hand washing dishes can use up to 20 gallons.
- One gallon of water weighs approximately 8 ½ pounds.
- You can refill an 8 oz glass of water approximately 15,000 times for the same cost as a six-pack of soda.
- One inch of rainfall provides a lot of "natural water."? For example, a 20' x 50' roof with four downspouts and a gutter system, can collect up to 620 gallons of water from this 1,000 square foot area.
- A 1,000 square foot garden requires 1 inch of water per week at 620 gallons of water - at least. Newly established plants require double this amount of water.
Water Wisely
Most lawns require about one inch of water each week to remain actively growing during summer months. Vegetable crops require about one to two inches each week depending on root depth, growth stage, and soil type. This represents a lot of water.
When there is a lack of weekly rainfall, it is crucial that irrigators pay close attention to the weather and water wisely. Not only does improper irrigation waste valuable water, but excess irrigation water can also carry fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants to ground and surface waters.
Use a rain gauge to measure weekly rainfall and apply only the amount of supplemental water needed.
Avoid frequent watering, it encourages shallow root depths and can weaken plants. One thorough watering event each week is best.
Use low pressure/low volume watering systems such as soaker hoses and drip irrigation for gardens and beds. This reduces water losses due to evaporation, and the low flow rates minimize the potential for water leaching below the root zone or running off the surface. Water is also applied at or near the root zone where the plant needs it.
When using sprinklers:
- Avoid irrigating during hot, windy parts of the day to reduce evaporation loss– early morning is best as wet plant foliage during evening hours can increase susceptibility to disease.
- Be sure that automatic sprinklers have a manual control option– irrigate according to weekly rainfall amounts and not a set, automatic schedule.
- Turn your automatic sprinkler system off when it is raining. Don't be a water waster.
- Avoid irrigating paved surfaces, roads and driveways. Use shallow cans or a rain gauge to measure the amount of water being applied.
- Adjust the flow rate to the sprinklers to avoid surface runoff.
- Obtain and install a soil moisture sensor as part of your irrigation system.
Other important tips:
Consider planting drought tolerant plants - especially in those spots where the soil is already very dry and sandy. Soils differ in the amount of water they can hold, so save moisture-loving plants for areas with finer, heavier soils. During a serious, prolonged drought consider allowing lawns to go naturally dormant, because watering can actually stress the grass more by forcing it to grow under such adverse conditions.
Use rain barrels or cisterns to collect and store rainwater. Use mulch to conserve soil moisture in beds and gardens. Increase soil organic matter (and soil moisture holding capacity) through mulching and adding compost or other organic soil amendments.