When it comes to Elon grounds, there’s more than meets the eye. With 575-acres to maintain, the Physical Plant staff members work to make Elon both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly.

However, in light of the current drought in the Piedmont region, Elon groundskeeping staff members were bombarded with a number of e-mails of concern.

Few students are aware of where the water sources are for the irrigatioin systems. Despite a lack of knowledge, students were vocal about the “hypocrisy” behind Elon’s sprinkler systems.

Though students may take offense to the groundskeeping, university officials insist that they are trying harder than ever to satisfy their commitment to sustainability.

“People assume that since at home they open the faucet to water their lawns, we must do the same. It’s an erroneous assumption,” said Tom Flood, superintendent of landscaping and grounds.

In efforts to inform the public, Flood has posted an overview of the irrigation systems on E-net. In the report, Flood states that 85 percent of the water in the irrigation system actually comes from one of the three lakes on campus: Lake Mary Nell, Lake Verona and Elon Homes Lake.

These lakes obtain their water from storms, natural springs, inter-lake water sharing, surrounding runoff and deep man-made wells.

The other 15 percent includes the Academic Village area and The Oaks apartments where physical boundaries, such as underground utilities, are road-blocking efforts.

“We’ve expanded the pipelines all the way up to McMichael. We’re working on bringing it up through Haggard Avenue,” Flood said.

Ideally, Flood foresees the need to construct another body of water. The new lake location is purely speculation, however, he suggests that it will be built where there’s opportunity for the most direct assistance to exhausted irrigation areas.

“The most important thing we need to realize is that the system we have integrated at Elon is one of kind. I’ve talked to officials from North Carolina State University, University of Georgia, UNC-Greensboro and Duke University, and their grounds are dying in the drought,” Flood stated. “They’re watching $100,000 fields die. It’s a huge loss of investment.”

Additionally, Flood said that having impressive, sustainable grounds are a positive reflection of Elon as a whole.

“People have this assumption of judging quality based on appearance. The grounds serve as an important role in marketing and expanding Elon.”

Elon was recognized in a number of college ranking books for its appearance. In 2007, Princeton Review ranked Elon as the ninth most beautiful campus in the country.

Ultimately it is the Elon students who benefit, particularly for student athletes, Flood said.

“When the ground is hard and not irrigated, it’s like falling on concrete. The damage to the student is far greater and far more painful,” he said.

Reporter: Kristin Feeney - 10/24/07