People In Phoenix Won’t Have Green Lawns

The green lawn math is simple in Phoenix. The Colorado River provides less water to the city each year than the year before. Watering grass is the top use of water by residents. The supply and demand problem has collided.

Places where developers would like to build homes have become prohibited areas for the constitution. The only reason is lack of water availability. This, in turn, hurts the construction industry. It also cuts an increase in home units in one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

Payoff Program

The City of Phoenix has signaled that it takes the problem seriously. It has offered residents deals to eliminate their lawns. Called the “New Residential Grass Removal Incentive,” it requires residents to remove at least 250 square feet of lawn. For each square foot removed, the resident will receive $2. Applications for the program will be on a “first come, first served” basis.

When the program was launched, Cynthia Campbell, Water Resources Management Advisor for the city said, “Converting traditional grass lawns to desert landscaping is one of the most effective ways to conserve water in Phoenix.” It means the land around a residence will be covered by dirt and rocks.

The Colorado River is drying up, and so are the lawns in Phoenix.