A Survey of Lawn-Irrigation Behaviors of Residential Homeowners

The area of land covered with turfgrasses is increasing with urbanization, which may have significant implications for water quantity and quality.  Excessive irrigation may waste limited water resources and increase the potential for leaching or runoff.  Residential lawns represent the largest sector of turfgrass cover and the greatest opportunity for reducing water waste and deleterious impacts on water quality in urban watersheds.  A survey was conducted in Wichita, Olathe, and Salina, Kansas, USA, to investigate residential homeowners’ expectations for lawn appearance, knowledge of lawn water requirements, and lawn-irrigation practices. Results revealed that 48 to 63% of homeowners felt it was moderately to very important that their lawn look green all the time, regardless of weather conditions.  About 62% of homeowners indicated they did not know how much water their lawns required and 71 to 77% did not measure the water applied to their lawns. Nevertheless, 59 to 72% of homeowners thought it was important to keep their water bills from getting too high, and 64 to 79% indicated they were concerned about water conservation. Results indicate that while most homeowners are concerned about water use and conservation, they need additional information about lawn water requirements and how to accurately apply correct amounts.