U.S. Water News Online
SAN FRANCISCO -- Thirsty grass is expected to strain water supplies in California over the next 25 years if nothing is done to reduce outdoor water use, according to a new study.
The growing number of single-family homes with lush lawns, especially in the Central Valley, is projected to significantly increase the state's water demands, according to the report by the Public Policy Institute of California.
The amount of water used by California's cities and suburbs could increase from 8.9 million acre feet in 2000 to 11.9 million acre feet in 2030, the report said. Urban areas account for about 20 percent of the water used in California, while agricultural accounts for the rest.
The typical inland home uses two to three times as much water as the typical coastal residence because a greater share of inland housing is made up of single-family homes with lawns, according to the report.
California is projected to add about 11 million new residents by 2025, and at least half of them are expected to live in inland areas.
"Do the math," said PPIC economist Ellen Hanak, who co-authored the study. "We're facing the prospect of many more people, with more lawns and gardens, in the state's hottest, driest regions. That adds up to a lot of water."
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