Water Conservation:

1
Water Conservation

• Its all about the landscape.
• Laura Turner
• ESM 275

Photos courtesy of Xeriscape Colorado!, Inc.
unless otherwise noted.
2
Ahwahnee Principle 14

• Communities should provide for the efficient use
  of water through the use of natural drainage,
  drought tolerant landscaping and recycling.

3
Recycling

• 250 water recycling systems in California
• In San Diego County, 13,000 acre-feet reused each
  year
• Irrigate golf courses, agricultural lands as well
  as industrial uses

4
Natural Drainages

• Increased infiltration
• Prevent erosion and cleans water (ESA, NPDES)
• Aesthetic value

Local Government Commission
5
Landscaping

• 1.2 million acres urban irrigated landscape in
  California
• Average annual household use 127,400 gallons-
  50-70 used for irrigation
• 1,000 to 3,000 gallons for an average lawn during
  a peak summer day

6
Xeriscaping

• Xeric- adapted to extremely dry habitat
• Nancy Leavitt (Denver Environmental Planner)
  outlined principles and coined the term in 1982
• National Xeriscape Council founded in 1986

7
Seven Principles

• Planning and design
• Practical turf areas
• Appropriate plant selection

Iowa State Cooperative Extension
8
Seven Principles

• Soil analysis
• Efficient irrigation
• Use of mulches
• Appropriate maintenance

California Integrated Waste Management Board
Xeriscape Demonstration Garden
9

The Current Approach

• California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act
  (1990)
• Model water efficient landscape ordinance
• 257 agencies designed own ordinance

10
Highlights of Model Ordinance

• Uses Maximum Applied Water Allowance
• Requires landscapers to submit planned irrigation
  schedules.
• Plants with similar water needs must be grouped

11
Highlights of SB Regulations

• Zero turf area for commercial projects
• Max 20 of landscaped areas can be turf for
  residential projects
• Lawns use low water use varieties of turf
• No turf on slopes gt20
• 2 inches mulch reqd in all planted areas
• Low-volume irrigation (drip) gt25 landscaped area

12
Conclusion

• Focus on landscaping has huge potential for
  increases in domestic water efficiency
• Principles of xeriscaping can be applied in many
  ways
• Ordinances are a step in the right direction