Demand on groundwater driven by watering

Published 3:31 pm Saturday, July 12, 2014

ST. PAUL — As water conservationists worry about Minnesota groundwater supplies, they say one of the ripest areas for cutbacks is lawn watering.

Minnesota Public Radio examined residential use of water in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and found it varies widely. Reports said cited Andover as the biggest per capita user over five years, at about 120 gallons of water a day.

That’s twice as much as residents of Minneapolis use.

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Klay Eckles, the public works director in Woodbury, says irrigation is the “biggest player” in residential use. Eckles says anything associated with it gives the best chance for success in conserving water.