While state climate trends point toward wetter spring conditions, Illinois can experience the opposite condition: drought. It is frustrating to have increased water bills and watering restrictions. The drought of 2012 and the drought of 2023 reinforced the importance of water management and learning to manage your landscape with less water. We expect there will be more extreme swings in weather in the future. One week may supply a month’s worth of rain, followed by a month without a drop of precipitation.
These sharp shifts not only stress plants and water systems, but they also contribute to nutrient loss. When heavy rains follow a dry spell, nitrogen that has built up in soils can wash off into nearby rivers, lakes, or seep into groundwater. This can contaminate both public drinking water supplies and private wells, posing concerns for everyone.
Illinois Extension helps you build resiliency for your home and community, so you can plan for extremes and protect your landscape and water supply, no matter the weather.
Nutrient Pollution Sources and Solutions
Nitrates in Drinking Water: What Illinois Residents Need to Know
Consider practices that assist with reducing water usage.
Consider lawn care practices that build resiliency in America's most abundantly irrigated crop.
Conserving water can be simple with the right items in place and a few small habit changes. We all know the obvious “turn the water off” ways to save water, but what about considering water quality and how you can save some of the energy it takes to get water to your tap?
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101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)
1301 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801
Email: extension@illinois.edu
