Lawn-watering already takes up lots of water: Boiseans use 65 million gallons of Veolia water per day during the summer months to irrigate their lawns, according to a utility estimate shared by the city of Boise. This summer, Boise’s City Council approved a plan for the mayor to potentially curtail lawn watering if things get drier and dire.
Idaho’s domestic water usage is among the highest in the nation, according to the Treasure Valley Water Atlas. That ranking is specifically because of lawn watering, said Christa Howarth, source water educator with the University of Idaho extension. More efficient irrigation could save water for higher uses, Howarth said.
Part of the problem is that every summer, water pounds down on sidewalks in the Treasure Valley, drops rippling on glassy reflective surfaces, all because of sprinkler jets overshooting the grass and landing on pavement. For some homeowners, it can be expensive and wastes water that could keep thirsty grass alive…