Despite drought, no ban on misting systems

Some water agencies restrict when you water, why you water and how much you water. But, there is no restriction when it comes to the use of misting systems. That’s because they use much less water than one may think.

Mike Lemche, CEO of MicroCool in Thousand Palms, has installed misting systems across the Coachella Valley for 15 years.

“Many people don’t understand the little amount of water that we use,” said Lemche.

According to Lemche, all of the misting systems in the Coachella Valley use less water than one golf course.

“One nozzle using that little amount of water 125 one thousandths of a gallon will generate one ton of air conditioning in one hour,” he added.

Patio misters can make it feel up to 10 degrees cooler outside.

“The water droplet is 20 microns,” he said. “A human hair is about a hundred microns. So, it’s like a fifth the size of a human hair and it evaporates very quickly and gives us cool air.”

Like evaporative coolers, they work best in dry conditions when dew points are low.

Willie Rhine, general manager of Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs, says during hot summer months the restaurant relies on its misting system. Still, he says they are trying to conserve.

“We’ve not turned on our misters as much as we normally would,” explained Rhine. “We wait until there’s a request. Once we get a request we almost have to turn them on.”

Lemche also suggests ways to cut back.

“Replace every fourth nozzle with a plug,” he said. “That’s the great thing about it we can very easily cut 25 percent by eliminating some of the nozzles.”

Both agree that misting systems bring the Coachella Valley more than just a way to cool off.

“The benefit that we get far out rides the usage because look at the business we’re attracting to the Coachella Valley,” concluded Lemche.

The city of Palm Desert decided to turn off misters at its parks. But, there is no official ban in place.