ABSTRACT
We usually think of deserts or droughts when we think of lack of water. But due to population growth and increased urbanization in many areas, that is no longer the case. Municipalities supply potable water by first treating and testing it to ensure it is safe for human consumption. A safe water supply that is delivered to individual homes and businesses is an important component of the infrastructure that many people take for granted. However, when water is in short supply, due to seasonal drought, multiyear drought, or simply because demand exceeds the capabilities of a system, landscape water use is one of the first targets for reduced water consumption. Perhaps it is because water that is used on landscapes currently accounts for a third of residential water use, totaling nearly 7 billion gallons of water each day. This chapter examines ways to reduce water usage in the landscape while still achieving a high aesthetic quality.
