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Conservancy district encourages Utahns to consider landscaping that reduces water use

Posted at 9:50 PM, May 23, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-23 23:50:08-04

WEST JORDAN, Utah -- After having one of the warmest and least snow-packed winters on record, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District is looking for ways we can save water.

The conservancy district has teamed with the conservation water park, which provides information about alternate ways that you can continue to have a lush landscape while saving water.

“Sometime people are afraid water-wise landscapes,” said Cynthia Bee, who is an outreach coordinator for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. “And especially having no lawn because they are afraid it will look messy or sloppy, and it can if you don’t take that same principle and apply it.”

The average Utah homeowner uses 50-inches of water on their lawn each summer, which is double of what is needed for a perfectly soft green yard.

“We’re able to keep that same grass, this is blue grass here, green on 24 to 27 inches depending on the season," Bee said.

That’s something that can easily be done to conserve water without changing your landscape. But there are a number of alternative solutions that could help save water and make your landscape look even better. It may be just be a change in the grass you use, or it could be a complete water-free landscape makeover.

“So this is the one spot in the entire garden that gets no supplemental water,” Bee said of one area of the conservation garden. “And as you can see, you have it filled with a lot of Utah natives and other beautiful plants that can handle these really harsh conditions.  And while this may not be the best choice for everyone, it's a great way to conserve water and it’s a great for local business.”

Whether you change your landscape or not, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District urges folks to do anything they can to conserve water when it comes to our yards. They suggest watering only when it is truly needed, which may be only every other day. They also recommend turning watering systems off when there is rain and not watering during the heat of the day.