Water, irrigation and drought are popular news topics in 2015, and rightly so. “California is facing an unprecedented water crisis, with 98 percent of the state experiencing some level of drought, and 44 percent experiencing extreme drought,” says Anthony LaFetra, President of Rain Bird Corporation, manufacturers of irrigation products, in a statement on the company’s website. In April this year, California Governor Jerry Brown ordered the first-ever mandatory statewide water rationing. A recent New York Times article quotes Governor Brown as saying, “We are embarked upon an experiment that no one has ever tried,” regarding his mandate that Californians cut their water use by 25 percent.
In his statement on the Rain Bird website, LaFetra also says that, according to the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), more than half of all residential water use in California takes place outdoors. He adds, “The ACWA also estimates that California residents tend to over-water outdoor plants and lawns by as much as 60 percent. These statistics indicate a tremendous opportunity to use this valuable resource more efficiently throughout California and the rest of the world.” LaFetra also says that Governor Brown’s mandate “has brought a long-standing issue to the forefront of the state’s consciousness—perhaps even to the world’s. The conversation has finally turned from how we should use less water to how we must use less water.” This is where and how sprinkler systems and irrigation products can help to conserve water in California and other drought-stricken states.
It’s not just California that is experiencing a drought, and it’s not just today, in 2015, that officials are worried about: Drought conditions are predicted to impact a large part of the country in the coming decades, too. A recent study by scientists from NASA, Columbia University and Cornell University predicts that there is a “megadrought” on its way. As reported by National Geographic, the study says “the chances of a 35-year or longer ‘megadrought’ striking the Southwest and central Great Plains by 2100 are above 80 percent if the world stays on its current trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions.” Looking ahead, and right now, water conservation needs to be taken seriously.
When it comes to conserving water resources, residences and commercial properties, plus businesses and industries that rely on irrigation systems to get their jobs done, can all use their irrigation and sprinkler systems to their advantage and comply with mandatory regulations regarding water use, when necessary. Irrigation systems can help everyone use water wisely, and use water efficiently. At Caylor Industrial, we supply the necessary valves, parts and components for the installation and maintenance of water-efficient irrigation systems for homes, schools, parks, sports fields, golf courses, businesses, farms, and any location with a sprinkler system or an irrigation system. Contact us with any questions you may have, or visit our online catalog to find the irrigation valves, fittings and parts you need.