The Town of Lynnfield announced this week that it is participating in a campaign to promote clean water, water conservation and sustainably healthy yards.
Stage one of the Water for People campaign, an initiative launched by the Greenscapes North Shore Coalition, is asking people to conserve water and allow their lawns to go dormant by not watering their lawns.
The coalition says that frequent watering is counterproductive and makes grass more sensitive to conditions, by causing it to develop shallow roots. It claims that 80 percent of the water used on lawn irrigation evaporates into the air. Massachusetts households that water lawns in the summer use up to 1,900 gallons of water a week, which is equivalent to running a shower for 12 hours. Greenscapes says that water conservation needs to be a practiced behavior, not just a response to drought and that it is possible to have a beautiful lawn and conserve water resources at the same time.
Residents are encouraged to go to the Greenscapes website at http://greenscapes.org/waterforpeople/ and take the Water For People pledge, stating that they are volunteering to let their lawns go brown and that they will water their gardens only by hand. Residents may also request a Water for People lawn sign, to
Greenscapes North Shore Coalition is a collaborative of municipalities and partner organizations, focusing on stormwater and watershed related issues. Specifically, Greenscapes provides outreach and education to support municipal compliance with water-related regulatory requirements, including the MS4 Stormwater and the Water Management Act permits. Since its founding in 2007, Greenscapes partners have delivered outreach and education services across the North Shore.
