Falls Fall, Grass Guzzles Water

KELO reports tonight that, even as the Big Sioux flows ever less vigorously over the splendid falls downtown, Sioux Falls water usage is skyrocketing with the warm, dry weather. Average daily water usage in Sioux Falls is 22 million gallons. Currently, Sioux Falls is using 45 million gallons each day. That's an increase of 11 million gallons per day since July 1. Most of that water, says SF Public Works Department's Kevin Smith, is being sprinkled onto lawns in the vain (do read the double meaning) attempt to keep grass green.

It's grass, people. You can't eat it. You can't sell it. It goes dormant when it gets hot and dry; it'll come back when it rains again. To pour that much water out -- and especially when we see people watering during the day, when half of that water will evaporate before it drips off the grass stalks -- is sheer waste of a vital natural resource.

Besides, we need to conserve water for all the ethanol plants and that new refinery, right?

p.s.: Speaking of refineries and petroleum products, get your yard off drugs! Xeriscaping, anyone?