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Outdoor Water Use

Overview

In Colorado, about 40% of municipal and industrial water use is accounted for through outdoor water use (WEco, 2016). While strides have been made to improve outdoor water efficiency, there is still a significant amount of waste and additional water savings that may be achieved via waterwise landscapes. In addition to significant water-saving potential, healthy landscapes provide important environmental benefits, increase property values, and improve quality of life.

The Outdoor Water Use Best Practice Area is at the intersection of multiple professional fields that are rapidly evolving (e.g., water resources, landscaping, horticultural science). The information provided in this section serves as an introduction to foundational principles and presents current conditions at the time of writing. For more on this best practice see the CWW Best Practices document, which includes additional information on:

Supporting Waterwise Basics in all plant selection, landscape planning, and design.
Ensuring Landscape Design, Installation, and Maintenance that is water efficient.
Supporting Efficient Irrigation that accounts for waterwise plant selection and landscape design.
Developing Landscape Transformation Programs that help customers install waterwise and efficient landscapes.
Elevating the Landscaping Industry to create a workforce that has the tools and knowledge to successfully design, install, and maintain waterwise landscapes.
Other Outdoor Water Uses and considerations, including urban agriculture and pool water efficiency.

See external resources related to Outdoor Water Use.

Navigation

	Best Practices Guidebook Home
	Planning and Implementation
	Rates and Fees
	Measurement and Data
	Development and Codes
	Education and Communication
	Indoor Water Use
	Outdoor Water Use
	Case Studies

The definition of "water-wise landscape" or "water-wise landscaping" was further codified under HB22-1151 to mean “a water- and plant-management practice that is intended to be functional and attractive…and emphasizes the use of plants that require lower supplemental water, such as native and drought-tolerant plants.” The legislation goes on to identify and define the seven specific landscaping principles that comprise the concept (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-60-135).

Key Takeaways

Waterwise Basics

Waterwise plant selection is an essential best practice that incorporates healthy native and low-water use plants that are climate appropriate for a water provider’s region.
For waterwise landscapes, high water demand turfgrass should be limited to functional purpose(s).
All waterwise landscapes must consider the benefits and maintenance of trees.

Landscape Design, Installation, and Maintenance

Landscape design, installation, and maintenance are equally as important as plant selection for achieving water savings.
Landscape design, installation, and maintenance must take into account factors like sun exposure, soil conditions, use, and applicable landscape standards.

Irrigation Efficiency

Like landscape design, irrigation design, installation, operations, and maintenance play critical roles in saving water and must be considered at the beginning of the process.
Irrigation efficiency is a specialized field that requires professional expertise and homeowner education.

Landscape Transformation Programs

There is significant momentum across the state for landscape transformation programs.
When designing programs, it is important to consider the differences between small- and large-scale landscape transformation projects.
At any scale, maintenance plans are critical for long-term success.

Elevating the Landscaping Practice

Additional training and resources are needed to increase the number of certified landscape professionals familiar with waterwise landscapes and efficient irrigation.
In developing additional training and resources, it is critical to partner with the industry to understand needs and provide adequate support.
It is important to connect customers with certified landscape professionals to “close the loop.”

Major Benefits and Considerations

Category	Definition
Water Savings	In Colorado, about 40% of municipal and industrial water use is accounted for through outdoor water use (WEco, 2016). Water efficiency landscapes can use 30-50% less water than traditional Kentucky bluegrass (Colorado WaterWise and Aquacraft, Inc., 2010).
Other Benefits	More efficient outdoor water use can reduce peak demands during the irrigation season which can allow water providers to reduce or delay the need for costly water supply and/or infrastructure development. Waterwise landscapes provide opportunities to increase awareness and promote responsible stewardship of water. A 5% investment in landscaping can raise the value of a home by 15% – a net 150% return on your investment (Johnson, 2017). Well-designed landscapes can promote physical activity and reduce stress. Well-maintained waterwise landscapes can support soil health, reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and reduce heat island effect. Waterwise landscapes can support drought resilience. Native landscapes specifically mitigate the loss of pollinator habitat to climate change. Irrigation systems are important tools for keeping trees alive and protecting landscape components during times of drought. Many providers can receive support for Landscape Transformation Programs via HB22-1151 which established a statewide Turf Replacement Program or federal grants like the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSmart Grant.

Costs

Category	Definition
Water Provider Costs	Rebates for water efficient irrigation equipment vary from $2.00 to $3.00 for a high-efficiency irrigation head, to up to $300 for a weather based smart irrigation controller. See the Indoor Best Practice for additional information on structuring a rebate program. In 2022 rebates for turf replacement programs amongst east slope water providers varied from $0.75 per square foot to $2.00 per square foot (Western Resource Advocates and WaterNow Alliance, 2022). West slope rebates are in a similar range, with Eagle River Water and Sanitation District offering $2.00 per square foot in 2023 and Mount Warner Water Sanitation District offering $1.00 per square foot in 2023 (Best, 2023).
Customer Costs	Costs to homeowners who complete the work themselves vary from $2.83 to $4.63 per square foot low-water use plant projects and $0.28 to $3.19 for native grass projects (BBC Research and Consulting, 2024). From 2019 – 2023 Northern Water’s landscape for large properties ranged from $0.06 to $23.00 per square foot. Turf conversions that consisted of converting high-water demand turf to low-water demand native turf were less per square foot than conversions to waterwise gardens. These costs did not include the landscaping design (Nowels, 2024). Customers must consider costs for changing irrigation systems, as well as the ongoing maintenance and weed reduction costs, which can be higher than costs associated with a turf-grass landscape that only requires mowing. According to BBC Research and Consulting (2024), ongoing costs estimates, excluding the cost of water, for a 500 square foot lawn with different landscape types include: Bluegrass: $160/yr Low-water use plants: $90/yr Native grass: $60/yr

Case Studies

Colorado Native Grass

Colorado WaterWise
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management@coloradowaterwise.org

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Denver, CO 80250

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