Water Districts Aim To Go Greener By Cutting Out Ornamental Grass

Though recent snow and rainfall have certainly improved drought conditions, California water officials still want to make every drop of water count.

That means cutting out the watering of decorative grass — also known as non-functional turf — frequently landscaped at traffic medians or office parking lots. Decorative grass is becoming a bigger problem for Western water agencies to address as policymakers look to cut back its water usage in statewide bans, proposed legislation and local ordinances.

Right before last summer’s sweltering heat, the California Water Resources Control Board set a statewide ban on irrigating non-functional turf with potable water in commercial, institutional and industrial sectors, also known as CII sites. Businesses could still irrigate their turf with recycled water, though the board recommended to prioritize watering trees and switching to low-water landscaping instead.

According to researchers from the Pacific Institute, a water research non-profit, converting grass to drought-suitable landscapes on CII sites could reduce water needs by 70 percent to 80 percent, and save the state between 340,000 and 400,000 acre-feet of water a year.

Water suppliers and local governments are on the hook to enforce the ban with fines up to $500 a day. […]

Full article: Water Districts Aim To Go Greener By Cutting Out Ornamental Grass