200 gallons of water, that’s the maximum consumption an average American uses every day and 30% of this water is used outdoors. This equates to 60 gallons of water used outside by a single person, every single day. Multiply that by millions of people and you get an alarming estimated amount of water absorbed into the ground at 9 billion gallons. In Minnesota and other parts of the country, many residents even over-water their lawns. They end up watering sidewalks and pavements—all this while some states are experiencing drought.
What is drought?
Drought is a weather-related phenomenon that comes second only to hurricanes in causing economic problems in the United States. It’s commonly known as a period of continuously unusually dry weather leading to damaged crops and shortage in water supplies. However, because dry conditions have different reasons for coming to be, droughts are also caused just the same.
Two researching scientists in the ’80s published over a hundred definitions of drought in the journal “Water International.” They grouped drought into four basic categories: meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic. The first three considered drought as a physical phenomenon, while the last one shows it as a supply-and-demand problem.
Meteorological drought affects regions. States like Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida are more likely to experience this kind of drought. This is because of their placement on the map. It’s no surprise that these states are where artificial grass is readily available and sold.
Agricultural drought considers the water needs of crops in their growing stages.
Hydrological drought is the persistent low water volumes in streams, rivers, and reservoirs. Human activities can worsen this type of drought.
Socioeconomic drought occurs when the demand for water exceeds the supply. This comes as a result of meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological droughts. Due to the already short supply that cannot reach the average human demand and consumption, the price of water can fluctuate as well.
A patch of 1000 square feet of natural grass lawn requires about 35,000 gallons of water every year. The Association of California Water Agencies, however, say that up to 60% of people over water their lawns. This leads to the usage of more than twice the expected requirement, at 75,000 gallons.
How does artificial grass help to steer clear of drought?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nearly one-third (1/3) of water used in households across the country is allotted to landscape irrigation or simply stated: watering lawns. This is the same lawn that needs to be weeded out, mowed, and taken care of.
See, the thing is, with artificial grass, you don’t need water! Artificial turf water use is substantially less than what’s needed for a natural lawn. It’s considered drought resistant because other than it saves water, its appearance doesn’t get affected by drought either. Because of technology, it’s possible to have a beautifully manicured lawn, now without the time, chemicals, and water needed for maintenance. Artificial grass doesn’t have to depend on the weather or climate in order to stay vibrant and look amazing.
Thousands of gallons of water per year can be saved by making the switch! Artificial grass, being made of plastic, does not cave into the dry spell. It remains as lush any day of the year, and it keeps your lawn beautiful no matter the circumstances. It doesn’t cost you astronomical water bills, either. Watering artificial grass doesn’t do much, except clean it. And that’s not even an everyday requirement.
It’s a cost-efficient, water-conserving, and drought-resistant package that requires little to no maintenance so you can stay inside on the driest of days. Conserve water, install artificial grass. It’s going to be one big win for your household and the environment!
What do states affected by drought do about it?
California and Texas, America’s most populated states, have been facing droughts. California started experiencing drought in 2014, and the government has shelled out an extra 2 billion dollars annually in response to drought conditions.
Water managers want to lessen water consumption. So California has taken other actions like price hikes for water in some parts of the state because of the drought. In an effort to lessen demand for water, parts of California like Orange County and the Monterey Peninsula, offer rebates. This is also done in most of the United States. These rebates are given to those who make the decision to forward water conservation through drought-resistant landscaping.
Installing artificial grass can entitle you to a rebate in selected areas. Just make sure to check your local government’s website for the requirements and how to avail of the rebate.
So, not only does artificial turf save up on water resources, but it also brings your weekends back, and keeps your yard looking great. You will also get a return on your money from the government for choosing eco-friendly solutions for your home.
Currently, only selected states are affected by drought, but due to global warming and climate change, things can get worse. The water scarcity could affect all the states in the future in some way. Over the past few years, water price has been rising—as much as six percent—for a single family’s annual consumption. This is because of supplies being slurped out and not being replenished fast enough to cater to the demand.
Other parts of the world allot more budget to areas where there is a drought in order to sustain the lives of their inhabitants. The effects of drought are felt worldwide, not just in the Northern American region. No matter how much we don’t want climate change, it is a reality that we’re going to have to live with for the next generations.
Other parts of the world allot more budget to areas where there is a drought in order to sustain the lives of their inhabitants. The effects of drought are felt worldwide, not just in the Northern American region. No matter how much we don’t want climate change, it is a reality that we’re going to have to live with for the next generations.
Temperate parts of the country like California coast will experience sharper weather changes. The whole state of California will have intense rainfall before extreme dryness, or weather whiplash. This is backed by scientific studies, more specifically, the Weather 2050 project.
So it’s time to act now.
We must change the way we live our lives in order to sustain the Earth’s life. Prioritize eco-friendly, sustainable products in your everyday choices. Make that change with MegaGrass.