Table of Contents
Table of Contents
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Overview
Overview
The graph to the left shows the % reduction in water use since the 2013 baseline year. Through 2024, the College of San Mateo leads the District in reducing water use, while Cañada College lags far behind. This is mostly likely due the the two pools at Cañada's Kinesiology and Wellness building that opened in 2022.
Irrigation & Seasonal Variation
Irrigation & Seasonal Variation
Districtwide and campus water use fluctuates drastically based on the season, largely due to the need for irrigation in the drier months of the year. In fact, irrigation is responsible for over 50% of SMCCCD's annual water use.
Fortunately, there are many strategies to reduce water use attributed to irrigation (see right).
Strategies to Reduce Irrigation Water
Strategies to Reduce Irrigation Water
1) Replace lush grass lawns with native, drought-resistant plants (or turf, for sports fields). Less irrigable land area results in less water use.
2) Hydrogel injections help the soil retain water longer, thereby requiring less frequent irrigation.
In the same year, monthly water use can increase as much as 10,000 CCF from the wet to dry season.
With global climate change resulting in warmer summer months, it will be increasingly important to increase and maintain drought resistant landscaping and other water-reduction initiatives across the District.
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