Nobody likes to be forced to do anything, especially if it will force you to change the way your currently enjoy doing things. In Las Vegas, we are being forced to conserve water even though we have grown very used to wasting it, and ultimately this is for our own good. We live in a desert environment and there is not an unlimited supply, so if we want to assure that we will not run out we need to not only be conscious of it’s limited nature, we need to make steps to save it. It may seem like there is no way that Lake Mead could ever run out of water, but what you have to realize is that there are so many people living here that need water for survival, that this is a real possibility. There has been a drought going on for many years, and the water level in the lake has been dropping every year as well. Each time we see the water drop more, we are in more danger of running out. We must work together as a community to assure that this never happens and puts people or animals into danger, and we must do it by forcing ourselves to change our behavior.
One of the biggest problems in Las Vegas is the belief that we are not in Las Vegas. What this means is that people attempt to change the landscape to look far more like California than the desert we live in. People install sod and plants that could never survive in the desert heat without artificial water supplies, and we have grown so used to the landscape looking that way that it has begun to seem natural. This is far from the case, and in reality none of these green plants could live here without the artificial water we supply to them. Unfortunately, if this is a behavior that threatens our water supply then we must work to change it, or be forced to if we refuse on our own. We must realize that landscaping is not necessary for our survival, and things that have no purpose except decoration cannot take precedence over people. Since we are in a drought, you must start the process of changing your behavior, and step one is to remove the grass and replace it with something that does not use water. This can be desert landscaping or xeriscaping, or even artificial turf if you absolutely must see the green of a lawn. All of these things are an improvement over the water waste of living landscaping.
Artificial turf is probably the best choice for Las Vegas, because it provides a green and soft landscaping look and feel, but needs no water to maintain that look. If you are ready to make the switch, contact the SNWA for information on their rebate programs before you do. There is a good chance you can have a portion of the cost paid for by the program benefits, and who doesn’t love to save money!