Outdoor Water Use and Drought

On average, a single-family home devotes at least 30 percent of its water for outdoor uses such as landscape irrigation, but that amount can be as much as 70 percent in arid regions. Unfortunately, without efficient watering practices, up to 50 percent of that water can go to waste due to inefficient watering methods and irrigation systems. Irrigation professionals, water utilities, and professional certifying organizations can use the materials and ideas in this section to help homeowners reduce outdoor water use and promote a healthy landscape that’s both beautiful and water-efficient.

During times of drought, it is doubly important to reduce outdoor water use and help save water around the home.