Our friend Water

Taking care of plants and gardens is more than a simple hobby; it’s a meaningful and profound way of expressing our love of nature. With its research activities and solutions Claber helps ensure increasingly efficient irrigation and protects an indispensable resource for the life of the planet: water. Water is becoming an ever more precious resource that we need to understand, respect and use to its best advantage: especially during our daily life.

71% = surface of the plant covered by oceans, rivers lakes, glaciers.
2% = percentage of water available to drink, cook, wash, water plants and for all other human activities.
1,400,000,000 = people without access to a source of clean drinking water
2,000,000,000 = people with access to scarce water resources
92.5 cubic metres = potable water usage per inhabitant in Italy (European average 85 cubic metres)*
47% = average loss of water from the national water distribution network *

Watering properly means meeting the needs of plants while avoiding wastage: in the total cost of the system and also in terms of water consumption. To achieve this result the irrigation system must be designed in order to minimise leaks at the water source, in the distribution system, and at the points of delivery.
Before reaching plant roots water tends to run over the surface where it evaporates or it simply fails to reach the required areas in the soil. That’s why Claber research is aimed at optimizing irrigation efficiency, meaning the ratio between the quantity of water supplied and the quantity effectively used by plants.
The watering systems that provide the highest efficiency levels are spray irrigation and drip irrigation. This latter system was created in the 1970s out of the desire to combine lower consumption with higher crop yields in agriculture, on difficult soils and in difficult climates: currently the water saving available using a drip irrigation system can be up to 40%.
In addition to making home irrigation far more convenient, electronic programming is a significant aid in reducing consumption. All that is needed is a battery-powered timer to determine the exact quantity of water and to dispense it at the ideal time of day: after sunset and at dawn, thus minimizing wastage through evaporation. All this is available with a small outlay and with the maximum level of reliability, versatility and ease of use: thanks to Claber.

AVOID THE HOTTEST TIMES OF DAY. Especially in summer the garden should ideally be watered at dawn or after sunset to minimise losses caused by evaporation.
MOW THE LAWN REGULARLY. Apart from being more attractive, a well-mown lawn requires less water: if the blades of grass are too long they tend to retain droplets of natural rainfall or artificial irrigation water before they filter down to the roots.
FEEL THE SOIL. The quantity of water required varies depending on whether the soil is sandy or clayey. That’s why it’s advisable to check that the soil has the correct humidity level without useless and harmful pooling. Claber timers help you to choose the ideal irrigation program for all types of soil.
USE THE RAIN. The water that falls from clouds is a gift of nature: we need to learn how to avoid wasting it. Claber has developed a Rain Sensor that suspends the irrigation program in the case of sufficient natural precipitation to ensure optimal irrigation and re-activates it once the weather becomes dry and sunny again.
WATER ONLY WHERE NECESSARY. A jet of water that wets the patio surface or the road means a lot of water gets wasted without any benefit for the plants. Claber sprinklers, both static and adjustable, make it possible to establish the exact target area, wetting it with the utmost uniformity.
TRUST IN CLABER’S EXPERIENCE. A system designed in a precise and competent manner, able to fully exploit the water pressure and water flow rate, is the key factor for efficient irrigation offering reliable water savings and a particularly lush and healthy garden. So feel free to consult Claber’s free Planning Service, which is always at your disposal from your local Claber dealer.

IN THE KITCHEN: instead of washing fruit and vegetables under a running tap, leave them to soak for a while, ideally with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in the water. When preparing meals try to limit the quantity of pans, utensils and tableware you use. When washing the dishes don’t use too much detergent: apart from reducing pollution of rivers and the sea you’ll also use less water for rinsing.
AT HOME: even a small leak can mean a huge waste: just 90 drips a minute means a total loss of 4,000 litres of water each year. This isn’t just bad for the planet, it’s bad for your pocket too! Check your water system: with all the taps closed the dials of the water meter should not turn. You can also fit eco aerators to the taps for a huge saving in water consumption.
IN THE BATHROOM: did you know that 30% of home water consumption is due to toilet flushing? Each flush takes 10 litres of water. Modern systems provide different flush volumes for different requirements. Note also that a leaky cistern can result in the loss of 100 litres of water a day.
IN THE WASHING MACHINE: to save water and also electrical power make sure you always wash with a full machine load. In addition, not everyone understands the importance of temperature: a 30°C wash uses less water than a 90°C wash. When you buy a washing machine or a dishwasher, choose a brand that offers reduced water consumption: your decision will pay for itself through time.