As Iowa gardeners prepare for the busiest planting season of the year, new voluntary restrictions on lawn watering could impact their ability to maintain green and thriving gardens. “It’s getting really hot outside. People are irrigating more. And our water system is simply taxed with the high nitrate concentration and the increase in water use,” said Tami Madsen with Central Iowa Water Works. Central Iowa Water Works is asking more than 600,000 people to voluntarily reduce their lawn watering by 50%. This reduction could mean some plants may struggle to survive the summer heat. Greenhouse manager Jerry Holub explained that impatiens, a popular choice among gardeners, are not ideal for this summer. “This here is by far the number one item that uses water,” Holub said, showing off one of the plants. They typically need to be watered every day, sometimes more, depending on the weather. Central Iowa Water Works reported that lawn watering contributes 30 to 40% of water usage. To put that into perspective, on Tuesday alone, nearly 70 million gallons of water were used. 30% of that would be over 20 million gallons. Holub is now recommending alternative plants that require less water. “These are called serums,” he said, holding up one of his choices. “And this probably has the least water usage of any plant that we have here.”While the reduction hasn’t yet impacted business, Holub expressed concern about potential future restrictions. “If they go to rationing water, it’ll really affect us,” he said. If the situation worsens, Central Iowa Water Works may enforce a complete ban on lawn watering, as it did last summer.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
As Iowa gardeners prepare for the busiest planting season of the year, new voluntary restrictions on lawn watering could impact their ability to maintain green and thriving gardens.
“It’s getting really hot outside. People are irrigating more. And our water system is simply taxed with the high nitrate concentration and the increase in water use,” said Tami Madsen with Central Iowa Water Works.
Central Iowa Water Works is asking more than 600,000 people to voluntarily reduce their lawn watering by 50%. This reduction could mean some plants may struggle to survive the summer heat.
Greenhouse manager Jerry Holub explained that impatiens, a popular choice among gardeners, are not ideal for this summer.
“This here is by far the number one item that uses water,” Holub said, showing off one of the plants.
They typically need to be watered every day, sometimes more, depending on the weather.
Central Iowa Water Works reported that lawn watering contributes 30 to 40% of water usage. To put that into perspective, on Tuesday alone, nearly 70 million gallons of water were used. 30% of that would be over 20 million gallons.
Holub is now recommending alternative plants that require less water.
“These are called serums,” he said, holding up one of his choices. “And this probably has the least water usage of any plant that we have here.”
While the reduction hasn’t yet impacted business, Holub expressed concern about potential future restrictions.
“If they go to rationing water, it’ll really affect us,” he said.
If the situation worsens, Central Iowa Water Works may enforce a complete ban on lawn watering, as it did last summer.
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