In the average American household, outdoor water use accounts for 58% of residential water use; and 80 to 90% of that comes directly from landscaping practices. This sizeable portion is usually due to large amounts of grass or turf, over-watering, or leaky or inefficient irrigation systems. Below are outdoor water-saving ideas and information:

• Landscaping
• Watering Guidelines
• Lawn care
• Irrigation systems
• Consider a certified professional
• Washing cars and outdoor cleaning
• Pools and water features
• ADWR Water Conservation Tips for Arizona Residents (72 KB) provides general water saving tips and ideas for inside and outside the home.

• EPA Ideas for Residents (972 KB) provides information on how to use water efficiently inside and outside the home. Also includes information on efficient fixtures, appliances and leaks.

Low Water Use Plant Lists

ADWR Regulatory Plant Lists are used to regulate public medians and rights-of-way in Arizona’s five Active Management Areas (AMAs). Jurisdictions within many AMAs officially adopt the local ADWR list and incorporate it into ordinances and design guidelines for development. The lists also serve as a non-regulatory resource for residents. The lists were developed independently with the assistance of plant experts from each AMA.

Phoenix AMA

Pinal AMA

Prescott AMA

Santa Cruz AMA

Tucson AMA

Low Water Plants for Cochise County (231 KB), University of Arizona Cooperative Extension - Cochise County and the Water Wise Program Partners

Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert Booklet and searchable online version, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA)

Verde Valley Low Water Use Drought Tolerant Plant List (122 KB), University of Arizona Cooperative Extension - Yavapai County and ADWR

Payson Native Low-water Use Plant List, Town of Payson Water Department  

The Arizona Native Plant Society has a variety of brochures that provide photos and information about plants that are native to Arizona desert regions, or are non-native but low water users. The brochures include information about planting, landscaping tips, water use, and maintenance.

The Arboretum at Flagstaff Resources Page provides links to regionally-appropriate, high-elevation plant lists. Arboretum resources include photos and information on growing conditions, transplanting or planting from seed, and mail-order sources.

Water-efficient Landscapes

Xeriscape (zîr'ĭ-skāp'): A landscaping method that employs drought-resistant plants in an effort to conserve resources, especially water.

Xeriscape: Landscaping with Style in the Sonoran Desert is an illustrated guide that      

covers xeriscape principles, landscape planning and design, installation, maintenance, and

resources. Beautiful photos provide inspiration and design ideas.

For the interactive, online version, go to www.landscapewithstyle.com                             

Ch 1 - Xeriscape Principles (2 MB)

Ch 2 - Eight Steps to Planning and Designing a Great Yard (11 MB)

Ch 3 - Your Installation Checklist (4 MB)

Ch 4 - Xeriscape Maintenance: Healthy Landscapes for Lasting Beauty (4 MB)developed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, 2000.

Watering Guidelines

General information

How Often and How Long to Water (33 KB) explains how to determine a plant's water needs. Developed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Arizona desert landscape

Landscape Watering by the Numbers shows how to calculate the water plants and lawns need, how much water irrigation provides, and how to develop a seasonal watering schedule. Developed by the Cities of Mesa and Scottsdale for AMWUA (Arizona Municipal Water Users Association), 2003.

Regional information

Southern Arizona Landscape Watering Guidelines (51 KB) provides information on the quantity and frequency of watering plants on the Tucson and Santa Cruz AMA Low Water Use Plant Lists. Developed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in conjunction with the University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension for use in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise Counties.

Water-Wise Landscaping for Southern Arizona CD- contains information on over 700 low water use plants suitable for Southern Arizona; photos of outstanding gardens and photo galleries with inspiring design ideas.

Xeriscape Contest

The Tucson community has come together to continue the Xeriscape contest.  The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tohono Chul Park and Tucson Botanical Gardens, and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) have teamed up to organize and promote the contest. This important contest promotes the use of native plants, water use awareness and a commitment to the long-term resolution of water supply issues in the Tucson area. For information, rules, entry forms and prizes, visit http://www.desertmuseum.org/xeriscape/ or call (520) 880-3010.

Plant Tagging Program for Nurseries

   Drop Your Water Use is a program designed to educate retail nursery customers on how to plan and maintain

   a healthy and water-efficient landscape. The program is a voluntary collaboration between ADWR and nurseries

   that uses a simple water drop system to identify plants with similar water requirements.

Lawn Care

   Good Reasons to Take Out Your Grass (3 MB) offers practical advice and tips for removing a lawn so that

   low-water use plants can be planted or to make room for new features such as patios and planters.

   Developed by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA).

    Desert Lawn Care Guide (2 MB) offers practical advice and tips for maintaining a healthy and water-

   efficient lawn. Developed by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA).

Fine Tune Your Irrigation System to Save Water and Money (274 KB). The EPA explains how water-efficient habits will result in a healthier lawn and landscape, in addition to conserving water and saving money.

Guidelines of Landscape Drip Irrigation Systems (2 MB) covers drip irrigation in detail, including design, materials, installation, maintenance, operation and repair. It includes estimated water requirements for plants in Phoenix and Tucson, watering frequencies, and a simplified approach for determining landscape watering schedules. The Guidelines are useful for homeowners, contractors, developers and municipalities. Developed by the Arizona Landscape Irrigation Guidelines Committee with funding from the Arizona Department of Water Resources, 1999. Reprinted by AMWUA in 2001.

Don’t miss our Irrigation System and Artificial Turf Technologies for more information!

Your Grass Can Be Greener – Water Efficient Landscapes Start with Certified Irrigation Professionals (639 KB). The EPA encourages homeowners to choose landscape professionals who have successfully completed certification programs and demonstrated competency in water-efficient irrigation practices.

Find Arizona landscape professionals who have been certified under the following programs:

• EPA WaterSense - Certified Landscape Partners

• Irrigation Association - Certified Irrigation or Landscape Professional    

• University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Smartscape (Horticultural Practices for the Sonoran Desert) - Phoenix and Tucson

• Arizona Landscape Contractor’s Association - Arizona Certified Landscape Professional

• Arizona Nursery Association - Arizona Certified Nursery Professional

• Desert Botanical Garden - Desert Landscaper 

Cleaning a patio or washing a car is one of the least water intensive outdoor uses; however, there are still many easy ways to be water efficient while cleaning outdoors.

• Instead of hosing off the patio or driveway, use a broom. If water is still necessary, use an automatic stop nozzle or consider a water broom.

• Washing a vehicle at home can use 80-140 gallons of water, which is more than the amount used at a commercial car wash! When washing a vehicle at home, wash it on gravel or grass and use a bucket and automatic stop hose nozzle.

• To learn more about the different types of commercial car washes and their water use, visit the technologies page or check out the Water-conserving Tips for Washing Your Vehicle (555 KB) fact sheet.

Private pools are not recommended and water features should be limited. For residences that have water features, a spa and/or pool, visit the technologies page or check out the Pools and Spas (187 KB) fact sheet for more information on reducing water use and waste.