OCR Text |
Show landscaping practices, an accepted common name or term used by the landscape industry and government would be beneficial. The general public could then better understand the concepts being promoted. Potential of Water Conserving Landscapes Based on the recent Wasatch Front Water Demand/ Supply Model ( 1994) Study, about half of the treated water ( culinary) in Utah is used for outside watering and irrigation, primarily for lawns and landscaping. This fact is consistent with recent studies in Southern Nevada that show 60 percent of treated water is for outdoor use and in Santa Barbara, California, showing outdoor uses of 45 percent of the culinary water supply. Water- wise landscaping offers the most potential for saving water or reducing demand of any residential or public/ commercial water conservation measure being examined. Outdoor water use in Utah can be reduced an estimated 5 to 20 percent if water conserving landscapes are more readily accepted by the public. Before Utah home owners adopt such landscaping practices in the future, many factors need to be considered, including the cost and availability of water, landscape design, native plants and public sentiment for such changes. Research is needed to quantify all these factors. Promotion of water conserving landscapes could include: A. Educational programs ( including financial and technical support) by water purveyors to demonstrate the benefits of water- efficient landscapes to water users and the community. Such programs could include plans for disseminating water efficient landscape informational materials to new homeowners, irrigation scheduling and management information, and landscape water audits. B. Water conservation demonstration gardens. 16 C. Financial incentives or water rate adjustments by water suppliers ( cities, towns, water conservancy districts, etc.) to encourage installation of water conserving landscapes and efficient irrigation management. D. Encouragement to adopt landscape and irrigation ordinances based on water conservation principles. E. Education programs targeting residential appraisers to inform lending institutions of the additional value of water conserving landscapes. F. Incentives for the nursery industry to provide and promote low water use landscape plant materials and similar incentives to landscape and irrigation companies to promote efficient irrigation system design and management. Cost Benefits of Water Conserving Landscaping Recent research projects in California and Arizona show significant water savings can be achieved by installing water conserving landscapes and using efficient management of irrigation systems rather than conventional landscapes. Associated maintenance costs can be reduced as well. • 42.2 percent savings or 209 gallons per day per residential unit. East Bay Municipal Utility District - Northern California - Study conducted in 1992. • 54 percent savings in water or $ 75.00 overall costs per residential unit. North Marin Water District - Northern California - Study conducted in June 1986 - 548 dwelling units using water conserving landscapes. |