July is ‘Smart Irrigation Month’

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans’ landscape irrigation use is estimated to account for roughly 7 billion gallons of water each day. Irrigation experts estimate that up to 50 percent of water used for landscape irrigation may be lost due to over-watering, evaporation, or bad irrigation system design and maintenance. The EPA estimates that the amount of water wasted is equivalent to letting a family of four run the shower continuously for almost one week! That’s why the Irrigation Association (IA) has named July ‘Smart Irrigation Month.’

Here is a tip from Toro on smart irrigation: Install a drip irrigation system around your shrubs, hanging baskets, and flower and vegetable gardens. Drip irrigation systems use 50 percent less water than conventional sprinklers and are more efficient because they deliver water slowly and directly to the plant’s root system.