One Colorado city urges residents to consider replacing lawns to cut water costs

Westminster, Colorado, is encouraging residents to participate in a lawn replacement program aimed at reducing water usage and costs. Despite the winter season, community members are already visualizing their gardens for the upcoming year. Shelly Woodcock, a longtime homeowner, reflects on her journey of maintaining a garden but has found it increasingly challenging to manage the costs associated with watering her lawn.

With water bills soaring—reaching $250 during a particularly hot July—Woodcock and many others are reconsidering their traditional lawns. Drew Beckwith, Westminster's Senior Water Resources Analyst, notes a significant shift in priorities over the last few years. Many residents are opting to replace their grass lawns with drought-resistant vegetation, which not only conserves water but also lowers monthly expenses.

Westminster supports this transition by offering financial assistance through their lawn replacement program. This includes services where crews remove existing grass and prepare the area for new planting. Alternatively, homeowners like Woodcock can take the initiative by killing off their grass and using subsidized planting kits to create a low-maintenance yard.

Woodcock's transformation resulted in a remarkable reduction of 66% in her household's summer water usage, with monthly bills dropping to a maximum of $65. This change has not only been financially beneficial but also simplified her upkeep, as she spends less time managing weeds and cleanup in her garden.

Since the program's inception in 2020, Westminster has successfully transformed over 100 lawns annually, a substantial increase from earlier efforts that offered only 240 garden discounts per year. Beckwith emphasizes that collective actions taken by residents are positively impacting the city’s water consumption, highlighting that, despite a growing population, total water usage has decreased compared to two decades ago. Residents interested in the lawn replacement program are encouraged to apply before the February deadline.