Water-Efficient Landscape Design

Water-Efficient Landscape Design

Of the estimated 29 billion gallons of water used daily by households in the United States, nearly 7 billion gallons, or 30 percent, is devoted to outdoor water use. In dry climates, a household's outdoor water use can be as high as 70 percent.

Outdoor water use stresses existing water supplies by contributing to peak demand during summer months. During these hot, dry times, utilities must increase capacity to meet water needs, sometimes as much as three to four times the amount used during the winter.

Interested in developing a water-efficient landscape for your home or property? Follow these simple steps to create a water-saving landscape that you can be proud of. For ideas on appropriate plant choices, visit these listings of native or regionally-appropriate plants. And take a look at the WaterSense Landscape Photo Gallery to see examples of beautiful, water-saving landscapes from across the country.

Additional Resources

• Learn more about the concepts of water-efficient landscape design (PDF) (19 pp, 1.6MB, About PDF).
• See the Landscape for Life sitefor comprehensive information on creating a sustainable landscape.
• Visit the EPA GreenScapes web site to learn what you can do to preserve natural resources while keeping your lawn and garden healthy.
• Visit the Alliance for Water Efficiency Resource Libraryfor more information on landscape and irrigation water efficiency.