Watersmart: Landscape Conversions

Advanced Management Group finds landscape conversions reduce water bills, landscape maintenance costs

With ongoing drought conditions continuing to impact water levels in Lake Mead, the federal government has issued a water shortage declaration on the Colorado River, reducing Southern Nevada’s water supply by 7 billion gallons next year – enough water to serve more than 40,000 households annually. “Conservation remains key to weathering this historic drought,” said Doug Bennett, Southern Nevada Water Authority conservation manager. “The long-term viability of our community depends not only upon continued conservation, but increased efforts by businesses and residents.”

According to Bennett, the best way for the community to conserve water is to follow the mandatory seasonal watering restrictions, prevent and report water waste, and replace nonfunctional grass with drip-irrigated landscaping. “Reducing outdoor water use protects our water resources. Despite our efforts, there’s still an enormous amount of nonfunctional grass in this valley,” Bennett said. “The amount of water we’re applying to these decorative turf areas exceeds the shortage we’re facing.

The solution to balancing our supply is literally beneath

our feet.”

To help property owners convert thirsty grass to a drip-irrigated landscape, the SNWA offers a Water Smart Landscapes rebate of up to $3 per square foot of grass converted. “We’ve converted grass at numerous multifamily properties and seen the benefits of water-smart landscapes,” said Bret Holmes, president of Advanced Management Group (AMG), a property management company overseeing more than 44 multifamily complexes in the Las Vegas area. “The landscape upgrades lowered the properties’ water bills thanks to much lower water usage. We also were able to reduce landscape maintenance costs.” AMG is one of the property management teams leading the way when it comes to water conservation. The company sees the benefit to the community and the customers it serves by replacing grass. “It really is better for the environment and the city,” Holmes said, noting that the water and cost savings also are good for the bottom line.

While businesses like AMG help their clients see the economic and environmental benefits of converting grass to a water-smart landscape, many commercial properties have put off making the change despite the generous SNWA cash incentives and positive benefits to the bottom line. Assembly Bill 356, a new law enacted this summer, will help spur the replacement of waterthirsty grass with drip-irrigated landscapes. The legislation prohibits the use of Colorado River water to irrigate nonfunctional turf at commercial and multifamily properties by the end of 2026. Upgrading decorative grass to water-smart landscaping will help save more than 9.5 billion gallons of water annually – about 10 percent of Southern Nevada’s total annual water supply from the Colorado River. “Water is the very fuel of our economy and our citizen’s livelihoods. We need business leaders to champion

water conservation as a measure of ensuring economic

sustainability and quality of life in our community,” Bennett said. He added that SNWA conservation experts offer a consultation service to commercial properties and HOAs looking to save water. Contact one of SNWA’s business experts at cashincentives@snwa.com or call 702-862-3740 to learn more.

In 2019, Advanced Management Group converted 3,540 square feet of decorative grass to water-efficient landscaping at the Pecos Professional Park. The project garnered more than $10,000 in cash incentives and saves nearly 195,000 gallons of water a year.