{"id":12047,"date":"2024-07-27T14:50:51","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T14:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topat10.com\/?p=12047"},"modified":"2024-07-27T14:50:51","modified_gmt":"2024-07-27T14:50:51","slug":"how-to-calculate-lawn-irrigation-water-usage-and-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topat10.com\/?p=12047","title":{"rendered":"How to Calculate Lawn Irrigation Water Usage and Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In my years of closely observing outdoor spaces, I\u2019ve noticed a growing problem: maintaining a vibrant lawn while dealing with widespread drought and rising water costs. It\u2019s a challenge that affects both our yards and our wallets. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve put together this guide to help you calculate your lawn\u2019s irrigation needs efficiently. <\/p>\n

By the end, you\u2019ll know exactly how much water your lawn needs and what it costs. This will help you keep your grass green without using up valuable resources.<\/p>\n

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Watering Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts<\/h2>\n

Water your yard<\/a> early in the morning and soak the ground thoroughly so that it penetrates to a depth of at least 3\u2033. While the amount of water needed will vary depending on your climate, the weather, and the time of year; the general rule of thumb is to make sure your lawn receives 1\u2033 of water to your lawn per week during dry conditions. <\/p>\n

To see how much water your grass is actually receiving, put several containers with straight sides\u2014such as a coffee mug, metal can, or plastic container\u2014on the ground around the yard while you are watering. Then use a ruler to measure the depth of the water in the container.<\/p>\n

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Calculating Water Use<\/h2>\n

To provide your lawn with one inch of water takes a little over half a gallon per square foot (0.623 gallon to be more exact). That means that every 10\u2019x10\u2019 area will require over 62 gallons of water. That doesn\u2019t sound like much until you consider that a 100\u2019 x 100\u2019 lawn uses 6,230 gallons of water every time you turn on the sprinklers! <\/p>\n

To figure out how much water you use, add the width and length of your yard in feet to get the number of square feet. Then multiply that figure by 0.623 to come up with the number of gallons used (or use our calculator below). <\/p>\n

This assumes that your yard is square or rectangular. For more unusual shapes, you\u2019ll have to dig out your old high school geometry book to come up with the amount of area involved.<\/p>\n

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Calculating Water Costs<\/h2>\n

Now that you know how much water you\u2019re using, you can estimate how much it will cost to keep your lawn green. While city water systems usually give separate prices for water and sewer services on your bill, in most cases both are actually based on the number of gallons of water you use. <\/p>\n

So for every 1,000 gallons of water that comes out of your faucet, you are also charged not only for the water but for 1,000 gallons of sewerage.<\/p>\n

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This holds true regardless of whether it goes down the drain or on your grass. Many cities will install a separate meter for irrigation purposes that does not include the cost of sewerage. <\/p>\n

To figure out how much it costs to water your yard, divide the number of gallons used by 1,000, then add up the price you pay per 1,000 gallons (see our cost calculator below).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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