The Effectiveness of Water Irrigation Policies for Residential Turfgrass
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2013
Keywords
Turfgrass, Domestic water policy, Restrictions, Citations, Lawns
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.08.001
Abstract
Turfgrass irrigation policies have been implemented in various regions of the U.S. to reduce domestic water consumption. Mandatory restrictions are often enforced by issuing citations to violators with the intent to promote compliance and deter violations. This study provides a detailed investigation of past water restrictions and compliance, and attempts to determine which factors are related to high rates of water usage within communities of Tampa, FL. The adjusted rainfall rate had the most significant relationship with water usage in the communities under study. Water usage increased in each examined community after it transitioned to more stringent water usage restrictions, with cited restriction violators increasing usage to a greater extent than their uncited counterparts. This increase may primarily be attributed to conflicts between the local water consumption policy and binding homeowner association rules. When the once-a-week usage restriction was in place, the area faced drought conditions. Therefore, homeowners irrigated more to meet the water needs of their lawns despite the restrictions imposed on them by their local government.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Land Use Policy, v. 31, p. 378-384
Scholar Commons Citation
Ozan, Lin A. and Alsharif, Kamal A., "The Effectiveness of Water Irrigation Policies for Residential Turfgrass" (2013). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 1311.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/1311
