We Just Ripped Out Our Lawn And Then I Read This

My wife and I recently had our landscaper conduct a lawn removal project in our backyard. We want to do our part to conserve water. And, of course, we also want lower water bills.

The rebate check from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) program for grass removal was also an incentive.

SNWA offers these rebates for lawn removal to help the driest state in the nation, Nevada, conserve water. Thousands of acres of turf have been removed throughout Southern Nevada since the program began in 1999. That’s according to an article written by Nat Lash, Mark Olalde, and Ash Ngu which I found on Projects.Propublica.org. 

Their article goes on to explain that SNWA doubled-down on this strategy recently to help conserve more water. Back in 2021, the Nevada Legislature passed a law “mandating the elimination of non-functional turf.” So basically, no more decorative lawns.

Based on this law, the Water Authority estimates that 3,900 acres of grass would be eliminated in six years.

So, Propublica did their own research and found that their estimates may be incorrect. It’s too high because they checked SNWA’s own aerial photographs. And those photos show it will be more like 1,100 acres of grass eliminated in six years.

The lawn removal program in Southern Nevada may have worked well and saved money the past couple of decades. But now, the authorities must find new ways to get us all to conserve water.

Per Propublica’s article, the federal government is currently considering cutting our water supply from the Colorado River. There won’t be enough water conservation even if all urban areas in the Southwest United States cut back on water use.

Experts say that agriculture and industrial companies must join in the water conservation efforts. They believe that’s the only major way to conserve enough water as Clark County continues to grow.

Well, I still think we made the correct decision for our home. That lawn was sure nice to look at, but we rarely used it. And now, we have pavers out there in that area. We hope to make it more of a gathering place when entertaining.

Plus, we’re not using as much water to keep that grass green. And, hopefully, we’re saving money each month on our water bill.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you must be aware of the drought conditions throughout the Southwestern United States. With that in mind, we are always looking for ways to conserve water. Did you know there are some very easy ways to save water, and save money on your water bill each month?

The Southern Nevada Water Authority does an excellent job of letting us know how often to water lawns, plants and trees. But, if you do not own a home surrounded by grass, plants and trees, you are most likely still concerned about the drought and your monthly charges for water use.

I did not know there was an agency in our state called the Nevada Special Utility District. But, after Googling ways to conserve water, their website popped up, so I clicked on the link. It took me to a page filled with great advice on how to conserve water in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and with your plumbing and appliances. They have a rather large section regarding outdoor water use as well. You can see all of this helpful information by CLICKING HERE.

For the purposes of this article, we are just going to concern ourselves with finding easy and inexpensive ways to save water every day and every month in our bathrooms. These rooms are all about water. That's where you find your shower, bathtub and toilet. All of these fixtures use a great deal of water throughout the year, and making sure every one of them is functioning at maximum efficiency will not only conserve water, it will save you big bucks on your next water bill.

Scroll down to see these six easy ways to conserve water in your home's bathrooms.

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Larry Martino is the long-time Afternoon Drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

In fact, you should check under all of your sinks for leaks as well. Leaks can waste a great deal of water. As far as your toilet goes, look inside the bowl too. If you see a trickle of water running down the back of the bowl, you may need to replace the flapper because water is leaking from the tank and into the bowl. It won't ruin your flooring, but it does mean the tank has to keep filling itself for no reason even when it isn't being used.

Your bodily waste and toilet paper are the only items you should be flushing down the toilet. I think this piece of advice is geared more to the fact that if you throw a Kleenex or cigarette butt into the toilet and then flush, it is a waste of water because both of those items could have been disposed of properly in a waste basket without having to flush your toilet. Flush a piece or two of trash down your toilet a couple of times in a day or week, and watch your water bill increase when it didn't have to.

This suggestion helps save water by reducing the amount of water necessary to fill up the toilet tank, a pint at a time. The water saved will add up in the long run. Don't worry, you'll still have enough water in your tank for a sanitary flush.

If this one action becomes a habit for you and your family, you can save up to 150 gallons of water each month according to the Nevada Special Utility District. If you turn off the water while brushing your teeth, you can save up to another 25 gallons of water per month. Save even more by turning off the faucet while washing your hands. Just run the water to soap up your hands, and then to rinse them off after scrubbing.

These low-flow shower heads are designed to increase the water pressure, but they use far less water. It is a rather inexpensive way to save lots of money on your water bill and conserve a great deal of water each month.

Reducing your shower time by just one or two minutes each time and you can save up to 150 gallons of water per month according to the Nevada Special Utility District. If you do not have a shower in your home, or if you prefer baths, then lower the water level my one or two inches each time in order to conserve water.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kklz963

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Larry Martino is the long-time Afternoon Drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.