Across the Inland Northwest, a green summer lawn is no longer automatically seen as a point of pride. Rising heat and drier conditions are putting more pressure on water supplies, leading more homeowners to replace thirsty grass with landscaping that needs far less irrigation.
What’s happening?
Inlander examined how much water a standard lawn can require in the Spokane, Washington, area and highlighted growing interest in alternatives such as xeriscaping and native plants.
With long sprinkler runs a common part of trying to keep grass green through intense heat, homeowners can use a substantial — and expensive — amount of water.
In 2020, the Water Wise conservation program estimated that the average Spokane household guzzles through 553 gallons of water per day outdoors — a figure that contributes to the city’s top 2% ranking in residential water use nationwide, according to Inlander…