The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Backyard Drip Irrigation JayDee Gunnell, Taun Beddes, and Burdette Barker
Background
Water in the Intermountain West
In the arid West, efforts continue to conserve water. With Utah being the third driest state in the nation (PRISM, 2022), it is critical to use water as wisely as possible. Since water is a limited resource, the ability to use water efficiently, especially in outdoor landscape settings, should be a goal for everyone. According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, 60% of potable water is used in outdoor landscapes. There are decades of research on water use and lawns. Based on research data from local water audits, many homeowners apply double the amount of irrigation to their lawns than is needed. Landscape irrigation is an area with the potential for substantial water savings.
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Utah is the third driest state. Landscape irrigation accounts for 60% of household water use. Most homeowners apply double the irrigation than is needed by plants. Drip irrigation can be 90% efficient, reducing water loss and waste. Trees, shrubs, and flowers vary in their irrigation requirements. Landscape irrigation is an area with the potential for substantial water savings.
This fact sheet provides information on efficiently irrigating plants, simplifying drip irrigation for homeowners, and introducing irrigation strategies that help increase efficiency and conserve water use in the home landscape.
Efficient Irrigation and Evapotranspiration (ET) The amount of water needed varies based on the climatic factors (sunny or cloudy, hot or cool, humid or dry, windy or calm), the season, the soil’s water-holding capacity, and the size and age of the plants. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a term 1