Water Myths. Can You Tell Truth from Fiction?
 
Here are some statements you may hear from family, friends or co-workers. See if you can tell who is passing on an ‘old wives’ tale’.
 
Myth: If it rains, there is no need to save water.
 
Fact: Even when Chandler experiences heavy, consistent rainfall, water remains a limited resource. That’s because the reservoirs that we use collect water from the Salt and Verde River watersheds that are far north and east of our valley. Droughts are common in our Sonoran Desert which is why we should practice conservation throughout the year.
 
 
Myth: It’s more effective to save water inside your home than to cut back on outdoor watering.
 
Fact: You can make the biggest difference saving water by reducing your use outdoors. Little things make a big difference. Check for leaks in taps, hoses and sprinkler heads. One slow drip can waste 20 gallons of water daily (7,000 gallons per year). Be sure to learn how to use your in-ground sprinkler system correctly. Check sprinkler systems frequently for broken and misaligned heads to prevent watering driveways, sidewalks and streets.
 
Find out more: How to check for leaks | Tips for efficient landscape irrigation
 
 
Myth: Watering daily is the only way to maintain a healthy, green lawn.
 
Fact: During the summer, your lawn needs about an inch of water per week. Overwatering is bad for landscapes and can cause wasteful (and often harmful) runoff. The runoff from overwatering can carry chemicals and fertilizer into retention areas where children and families typically play. Overwatering can also kill your plants or result in weak root structure.
 
 
Myth: The best sprinklers shoot high, fine sprays, which mist your landscape without wasting water.
 
Fact: Exactly the opposite. The best sprinklers throw large drops of water low to the ground rather than misty sprays, which let water evaporate quickly. Try a pressure-regulated spray head, which keeps the pressure constant. Use drip systems rather than sprinklers to water trees, shrubs and beds more efficiently. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you’ll really impress your neighbors by replacing your timer with an evapotranspiration (ET) controller. While traditional timers require manual adjustments every time the weather changes, these ‘smart’ controllers monitor information about soil moisture, rain, wind and evaporation, so your system only waters when it’s truly needed. ET controllers use real-time data from local weather stations to make adjustments automatically and can reduce water use by about 30 percent.
 
 
Myth: Keep your lawn short. Shorter grass uses less water, so you don’t need to water as much.
 
Fact: Let your grass grow and raise your lawnmower blade to a height of at least 3 inches. A taller lawn will help shade your soil so it requires less water. When you let your grass grow taller, its roots grow deeper, and you’ll have a healthier lawn. And you’ll spend less time and money on lawn maintenance.
 
 
Myth: I’ll use less water if I plant a winter lawn and let my summer Bermuda lawn die.
 
Fact: Your water use will be about the same. Establishing a winter lawn takes copious amounts of water to germinate the seed in the fall. Then it needs regular irrigation during the winter to keep it vigorous and growing. The growing season for varieties of rye grass now extends into June, making its water needs nearly equal to bermudagrass. Plus if you have trees in areas where Bermuda is growing and the water is cut off in the summer, most will die.

 
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