Artificial Grass and the Drought!
As drought conditions worsen – the environmental and water savings value of artificial grass becomes more and more apparent. According to the USGS, University of Arizona, homeowners use twice as much water (66% of total water consumption) as city businesses. Landscape/turf irrigation is the main driver – representing 60% of water consumption! In response to the need to reduce water consumption there is NO GREATER alternative than the use of synthetic grass! If you are going to install landscape requiring irrigation, be sure to find a contractor that is certified through the EPA WaterSense program and consider the cost savings associated with going with a completely waterless artificial grass and xeroscape plantings! Check out our cost comparison.
According to the National Weather Service drought conditions are expected to persist or intensify in California and Texas. The National Weather Service releases it drought update every two weeks. Excerpts from its February 5th update are below:
“…..Latest Seasonal Assessment - The drought over the southern Great Plains has expanded westward in recent weeks through much of the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. Drought conditions are expected to develop across southwest Texas and southeast New Mexico during the next few months…..In the West, several inches of precipitation anticipated in the near-term over California will be beneficial in many respects, but this event is not expected to provide significant mitigation of drought conditions across the state. The only exception is the northwest portion of the state, where some improvement is indicated…Typically during late La Niña winters of moderate or strong intensity, the storm activity and the associated Pacific jet stream are focused across the Northwest. However, with a weak La Niña currently in progress and the expectation of weak La Niña or ENSO-Neutral conditions through the next few months, there is increased uncertainty about the location and strength of West coast precipitation events…Across the Southeast, rainfall amounts have been on the light side across parts of the southern Appalachians and southern Piedmont areas, along with reduced streamflows. Rainfall for the next few weeks is forecast to barely reach above normal in this region, according to CPC extended-range predictions. Limited improvement is indicated for this area. In Florida, despite recent rain, drought is likely to persist and expand across large portions of the state, which has some support from late winter La Niña composites.”
To get the latest click here to visit the US Drought Monitor.