Landscape Management and Water Quality

We rely on surface and groundwater, such as is supplied by reservoir systems and wells, for our water. These supplies, in turn, rely on adequate rainfall and good water infiltration into the soil. Water is a precious and finite resource, which we cannot continue to use as if the supply were unlimited. It is estimated that each person in the United States uses an average of 60 to 100 gallons of water every day. In recent years, droughts and population pressures have combined to spotlight our dependence on previously plentiful water supplies in the Southeast. Water rationing and outright bans on watering landscapes have imposed severe limitations on the landscape/nursery industry as well as on home gardeners. Many municipal water authorities may be forced to restrict water use further if future shortages occur.

Our water supplies are threatened not only by overuse, but also by contamination when pollutants are carried down with water percolating through the soil to the water table or washed into lakes and streams via surface runoff. Home lawns and landscapes may contribute to such nonpoint source pollution, especially when improper water management and chemical application allow fertilizer- or pesticide-laden water to reach our water supplies. The Chesapeake Bay and other water bodies are also threatened by our use and abuse of garden chemicals and other pollutants.

Homeowners can help by learning water-wise landscape practices that both protect and conserve our water. A water-wise landscape can look as lush and green as many traditional landscapes. Water-wise landscaping focuses on proper landscape management, plant selection and placement, pest control, and efficient irrigation and fertilization practices, which can help keep our water clean and reduce water waste.

Using basic landscape management and design principles, we can achieve a sustainable, water-wise landscape. Proper management translates directly into money savings: lower water bills, less landscape maintenance, lower fertilizer costs, and fewer plant replacements. More importantly, however, through water-wise landscaping, you can do your part to protect our lakes, streams, and drinking water for the future.