AWWA ACE54464

The authors present a selection of preliminary findings from a multiyear study quantifying the residential water and economic savings realizable by converting from traditional turfgrass to xeric landscaping in a southwestern United States desert community. Findings are presented for three scaling levels: the total residence (with main meter data); the comparative landscape level (turf versus xeric landscape, with sub meter data); and, within xeric landscape (also with sub meter data). Findings cover: post-landscape conversion water savings for the whole property versus pre-conversion consumption; landscape maintenance savings (both hours and direct costs) for the whole property when xeriscape principles are applied; annual per unit area (sqft) water consumption and bill savings for xeric areas versus traditional turfgrass; the influence of system design and canopy coverage on xeric area water consumption; and, the long-term savings potential of xeric landscape (with its potentially increasingly canopy) versus turfgrass. The results show xeriscape is promising and effective as a water conservation tool. Includes 7 references, tables, figures.