AWWA JAW20604

The North Marin Water District in California conducted a research project to compare, on a monthly basis over the entire irrigation season, the use of outside water, landscape labor, fertilizer, fuel, and herbicides in traditional landscape projects with those in water conserving projects. Although the dollar savings attributed to fuel and herbicides were small, results showed that considerable savings could be achieved by the use of water conserving landscape design. Overall savings for the water conserving landscapes averaged $75 per year per dwelling unit in a condominium or townhouse development. The reduction in water and labor costs accounted for more than 80 percent of the total savings. A strong correlation was found between the perimeter of the turf and water use, indicating the turf perimeter may be the best parameter for defining a water conserving landscape. Includes tables, figures.