Garden footprint area and water use of gated communities in South Africa

Urban Farm DB summary

Using spatial data on 1,813 gated-community homes across different regions of South Africa, this study quantitatively evaluated garden footprint area as a percentage of total plot area. Analyzing data from 11 gated communities, it found the average garden footprint to be 36% of total plot area. Homes with a garden area under 100 m² showed limited influence on monthly water consumption, while water use in homes with a larger garden footprint increased proportionally with garden size, and seasonal fluctuations in water use reflected garden irrigation and other outdoor water use.