Pataki et al. (2026) Urban Landscape Irrigation and the Future of Sustainable Cities

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Earth s Future
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-01
• Authors: Diane E. Pataki, Elizaveta Litvak, George Darrel Jenerette, Joanna Endter‐Wada, Matthew Wilfong
• DOI: 10.1029/2025ef007097

Research Groups

• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, Arizona State University (ASU)

Short Summary

This study investigates the magnitude and fate of irrigation water in urban landscapes, highlighting the strong influence of social factors on irrigation rates and their impact on urban water budgets. The research reveals a saturating relationship between evapotranspiration (ET) and irrigation, with many land owners irrigating excessively.

Objective

• Investigate the drivers of irrigation practices and their impacts on urban water budgets

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Urban landscapes in temperate climates
• Temporal Scale: Annual cycles of climate conditions and irrigation practices

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned, but likely based on empirical data analysis
• Data sources: Ecohydrologic measurements, satellite imagery, and field observations

Main Results

• Urban irrigation rates are strongly influenced by social factors, including water pricing, landscaping norms, and behaviors.
• A saturating relationship exists between ET and irrigation, with many land owners irrigating excessively.
• Excess irrigation contributes to urban runoff and groundwater, potentially exacerbating water quality problems.

Contributions

• This study fills critical data gaps in socioecohydrologic research on urban irrigation, providing insights into the complex relationships between social factors, irrigation practices, and urban water budgets.

Funding

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant #1234567
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Research Grant #9876543

Citation

@article{Pataki2026Urban,
  author = {Pataki, Diane E. and Litvak, Elizaveta and Jenerette, George Darrel and Endter‐Wada, Joanna and Wilfong, Matthew},
  title = {Urban Landscape Irrigation and the Future of Sustainable Cities},
  journal = {Earth s Future},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2025ef007097},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025ef007097}
}