A Problem Growing Right Under Our Feet"
Xeriscaping can reduce water used for landscaping by 50 to 80 percent.
This reduction of water usage can be astonishing when one considers the
amount of water our community uses-about 265 million gallons per year
on landscaping at a cost of $304,035.
If we cut water use in half, we will save 132.5 million gallons and $150,000.
The second and best reason for xeriscaping our downtown district is the
drought that we are presently experiencing.
The need for people to conserve water is crucial. Our city leaders need to
set an example by reducing the city's own water consumption.
It is time that our community leaders take the qualities that they hope to
instill in their citizens and put them to practice. I propose that members of
our city council add xeriscaping to their future landscaping plans as well as
areas that have already been landscaped. Grassy areas are only needed in
the park where children play and families picnic.
Replacing 200 of the 400 acres of grass will also save the city endless
hours of mowing, pounds of fertilizer, and approximately $20,000 of
maintenance costs per year, on top of the $150,000 saved by reduced
water consumption.
Surely the city council can spend $170,000 per year on something more
useful to our community than grass.
Water conservation has been ignored too long. Efforts to conserve water
must begin now.
Select the correct answer.
What is the author's overall claim in the passage?
OA.
OB.
O C.
O D.
Efforts must be taken to conserve energy.
Efforts must be taken to conserve water.
Water is often wasted on people's yards.
Water is a valuable resource for people.