Stricter regulations, grass rebate program helping southern Utah county shed water-waster reputation.
St. George got hammered in the national media as a water waster. Can the green spot in the desert become a saver?
And Washington County has become the first region in the state to ban nonfunctional grass, or “lazy” grass, on all new commercial, industrial and institutional developments. Today, Renstrom proudly points out, you can even spot yards that are grass-free in the showcase Parade of Homes. Renstrom made a game plan: New homes had to be water-efficient. Owners of existing homes needed to be encouraged to replace their grass with desert landscaping. And the seven cities in the county needed to adopt stricter water conservation standards.Renstrom met with the Southern Utah Home Builders Association to make an unpopular call. Members needed to make major changes, he said, to help ensure the county didn’t run out of water.
“It came down to water sustainability and being able to build homes,” said Troy Ence, co-owner of Ence Homes. “Because if we don’t conserve water, there won’t be much development in the future.”program, which pays businesses and homeowners up to $2 per square foot to replace grass with landscaping that uses less water.
Some owners at the Gardens South Condominiums in St. George were harder to convince. Aubrey Quick, treasurer for the condominiums’ homeowners association, said some residents objected when the association decided to participate in the program and replace half the grass in common areas. The strategy helped bring the towns around. As of early 2024, all the district’s cities have signed on to the
By the district’s reckoning, the county has reduced its per capita water use by more than 30% since 2000.
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