There are simple ways to minimize water waste.If you’ve followed the tips given in previous weeks—using drought-resistant native plants, capturing rainwater for landscape use, employing swales and other water-retention strategies and mulching to reduce evaporation—and you still need to irrigate, be sure to install a system with water-saving features. Conventional sprinkler systems can be very wasteful, and you can lose lots of water through over-spraying and evaporation.
You can use low-trajectory nozzles on automatic sprinkler heads or nozzles with smaller diameters in windy areas. And drip irrigation is even better at reducing water waste. Also, if you group plants with similar watering needs in each irrigation zone, you’ll reduce the demand for water. In order to ensure that you only irrigate when necessary, in the quantities needed and at the best time of day to minimize waste, it is wise to invest in timers, soil moisture detectors and rain shut-off devices.
In partnership with the state’s energy office, the Maui Weekly provides this feature to help Valley Isle homeowners conserve and protect water resources.