H2O conservation effort on display

The Ellis family's front yard may not look different from the other green plots that line their West Jordan neighborhood but it does something that none of its neighbors do — uses 30 percent less water to survive.

The newly finished yard is an effort by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District to show Utah residents that saving water does not have to be synonymous with rock and cactus landscapes. Instead, simple measures like using water-wise plants and mulch instead of water-guzzling grass can keep a yard attractive and less water dependent.

A more water-conscious landscape could mean the difference for cities in Salt Lake County that are enduring a sixth year of drought that has shrunk Utah reservoirs to 50 percent of their normal capacity.

"These changes are absolutely necessary to provide enough water for our children and our grandchildren," said Bart Forsyth, assistant general manager of the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.

Because outdoor water makes up about 65 percent of Utah's water usage, lawn care is a top priority for Forsyth, who hopes the new lawn systems could cut city water use by a third.

Turning traditional lawns into conservation sites is feasible for most homeowners, Forsyth said, by simply requiring a slow phasing out of the bluegrass that makes up most Utah lawns and a phasing in of less water-dependent grass called fescue.

Homeowners can further decrease water use on their lawns by installing a sloping system to drip water down the yard instead of using sprinklers. Residents can also use more plants and trees.

West Jordan Mayor Bryan Holladay said he hopes the Ellis home will prompt residents to pitch in on the water conservation effort. While saving water is voluntary at this point, Holladay said he might consider more mandatory efforts to ensure water supplies are not depleted as the city continues to grow.

"We don't want to be water cops. We would rather be water motivators," he said. "But we will do what we have to do."

Holladay is already working with West Jordan Water Conservation Technician Steve Glain to rewrite city zoning laws that might be contributing to the high water use. One such law requires residents to have foliage in at least 50 percent of the lawn that borders the curb. Other zoning rewrites might include requiring a certain percentage of water-conserving plants in each yard, Glain said.