Part 3 – Assess your design

Answer the following questions:

1. How much water does your water-efficient design save compared to the turf grass backyard? Did you meet the goal of 40% reduction?

2. How does your design meet the goal of an aesthetically pleasing design including the inclusion of color, green and variety?

3. What is the average water use per month of your turf grass yard? Of your water-efficient design? Compute the cost of each landscape plan if water costs $3 per 1,000 gallons. Discuss.

4. Many water providers charge for water on a sliding scale, where rates increase as you use more water. For example, the rate scale for the city of Atlanta, GA, is $3.40/1000 gallons for the first 2,200 gal/month, but goes up to $8.22/1000 gallons if you use more than 5,200 gallons per month. The city of Fort Collins, CO charges $2.53/1000 gallons for the first 7,000 gallons per month, and increases to $3.34 if you use more than 13,000 gallons per month. Discuss the effectiveness of this strategy for encouraging water-efficient landscaping in the humid east versus the arid western United States.