Drip Irrigation is a method of watering plants by using perforated 

pipes buried near the roots of plants. Water flowing through the 

pipes directly reaches the roots of plants with the least amount of 

evaporation. Drip Irrigation is the most efficient method that can be 

used in dry areas like UAE.

However we can still see people using water spraying in many areas 

together with even spilled over water on the pavements. Spray 

irrigation uses almost one third more water than drip irrigation. 

People use spray method probably because it is easier and does not need an investment to lay the drip lines. But in a country like UAE 

where water availability is much lower, such wastages strain national 

resources to make water available for essential use.

Spray irrigation is very inefficient because when using spray irrigation, owing to the dry air, almost 60% of the water evaporates. The 

remaining sprayed water does not distribute evenly to the plants also.

The next time we see some one spraying water to the plants, we can educate the person on the wastages. Still to reduce the water loss, 

one can water the plants early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation. Also one should avoid watering if it is too windy. Watering in several short sessions rather than one long one also 

benefits by better absorption.