The National Geographic defines drought as an extended period of unusually dry weather when there is not enough rain. By “not enough”, it means that the rainfall in a given time period cannot provide for the needs of a given location. And rain is needed to grow crops, and provide for the area’s water supply.
As climate change interferes with regular weather systems, drought is bound to be a definite side effect. Scientific studies show that irregular systems in atmospheric circulation can interrupt with storm paths causing no rain for months at a time. Changes in wind patterns can also affect how much moisture remains in the soil.
In simple terms, climate change is causing unforeseen changes in weather patterns. These changes lead to a difference in the period of rainy days there are in a given time frame. For example, if we experience a week of rain in July this year, that could change to just five days in the next year due to climate change.
How does drought conditions affect people?
The absence of rain may lead to survival problems such as limited amounts of potable water and damage to plants. As we know, water is the basic necessity of human beings and other living things. And plants compose the lowest layer of the food chain. Without water nor plants, the food chain will crumble and man’s survival is bound to only last for a very short period of time.
Socio-economic issues such as hunger and necessary re-settlement of residence, among others, can also arise from drought-related events. If there becomes a low supply of water in an area, people will have no choice but to vacate (if they can) to a place with a better water source. (This is why in The Hunger Games, the first place a tribute looks to camp is near a river.)
Megadrought is not a transformer.
The Washington Post reports that “Megadroughts are sustained periods of sparse precipitation and significant loss of soil moisture that span generations, about 10 times as long as a normal three-year drought.” If you thought a three-year drought was bad, try thirty.
The current drought being experienced in the Southwest United States is not even comparable to what’s expected to come. In the later years of the century, a megadrought will be experienced throughout the region and the central Plains. This can possibly drive out people from those areas leading to an economic crisis.
In 35 years, if climate change continues at its current rate, the said areas will experience a shift in weather. That swing will last approximately three decades. During megadroughts, there will be harsh impacts on megacities, populations, and water availability. Lack of water can lead to so many health problems, not just famine, but also sanitation issues and pollution.
Cornell University, Columbia University, and NASA researchers forewarned major water shortages and problems that could lead to drying out vegetation. This, in turn, will lead to “monster” wildfires in southern Arizona and parts of California. These are all the results of climate change and its unnatural acceleration throughout the years.
Water Consumption
An average American consumes a maximum of 200 gallons of water per day. Taking baths, flushing down the toilet, brushing teeth, cooking, and drinking all consume water. 30% of the daily consumption is used on outdoor activities, like cleaning the car, mowing the lawn, and gardening. This leads to the conclusion that 60 gallons of water are used outside by a single person, every single day. If we multiply that to the millions of people in the United States, we get more or less about 9 billion gallons of water.
Unwanted Water Consumption
Irrigation systems for lawns are problematic for having leaks. Installed underground sprinklers are turned on regularly and they go unnoticed when leaking. According to the EPA, an irrigation system with a leak of 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
Let us clarify that, a hole with the thickness of a dime, not the diameter of a dime, can cause that much water to leak in a month! If 1 CCF (100 cubic feet / 748 gallons) of water in California costs $3.88, that would amount to at least $30 a month on a tiny leak. That’s how much water your irrigation system is wasting, and how much money you’re paying… for nothing.
The Environmental Protection Agency EPA finds that leaks “can waste more than 1 trillion gallons per year nationwide. That’s equal to the annual household use of more than 11 million homes.” These leaks go unnoticed because a few drops of water don’t seem like a big deal on the outset. However, counting millions of households with leaky pipes and faulty water sources, leaks cause an average of about 2.7 billion gallons. That’s 2.7 billion gallons of water wasted in the United States of America because of leakage and poor plumbing.
Water used on your lawn
The EPA found that nearly one-third (1/3) of residential water consumption across the country is used in watering landscapes. That amount is used, more often than not, for lawns.
According to a NASA study, lawns in the United States, when clumped together, would take as much space as the New York state (not the city). The total land area would be about fifty thousand square miles of grass. If, in theory, we water lawns every day amounting to that big of an area, we would need an astronomical amount of water! Unfortunately, there are still a lot of households that regularly water their lawns daily. Thus, using a great quantity of water for the grass. Natural lawns aren’t good ideas for water conservation.
According to a NASA study, lawns in the United States, when clumped together, would take as much space as the New York state (not the city). The total land area would be about fifty thousand square miles of grass. If, in theory, we water lawns every day amounting to that big of an area, we would need an astronomical amount of water! Unfortunately, there are still a lot of households that regularly water their lawns daily. Thus, using a great quantity of water for the grass. Natural lawns aren’t good ideas for water conservation.
Switch to drought resistant, water-conserving, and convenient landscaping.
If you want a lush patch of green without the hassle and cost of maintenance, artificial grass is the way to go. Install artificial grass in your lawn. You don’t need to be watering artificial grass for it to stay gorgeous! Artificial turf water use is significantly lower than keeping a natural grass lawn. And if you’re in a certain county or state, some local governments give out rebates if you make the switch! It’s convenient for you, and it can help save the Earth, too!
Conserve water every day to keep the drought away!