With exactly two weeks to go before new, statewide water restrictions kick in, some San Diego County residents are rushing to get rid of their lawns. Others are saying, “No way.”
After 35 years of a lush yard, Carlsbad residents Marie and Greg Montoya said it need to go for multiple reasons. Chief among them are Carlsbad city water restrictions.
"Obviously only allowing to water twice a week is not enough to keep the grass green,” said Marie. “So if it's, if you're not allowed to have it green, why have it."
So since the allocation wasn’t cutting it, landscapers arrived Wednesday to cut the lawn out of the ground. What were 6,000-square-feet of water-reliant grass will now get a new purpose.
The choice didn’t come without some hesitation. “We raised our kids here. They rolled down the hill, and all the Easter egg hunts…” said Marie.
However, a skyrocketing water bill and worsening drought soon made up the Montoyas’ minds.
Landscaper Paul Ramirez told NBC 7 Wednesday he’s seen more and more people making the same decision.
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"I'm busier and busier every day with new customers taking away their lawns and replacing it with drought-tolerant plants and succulents,” he said.
But some, like Rancho Santa Fe resident Jan Feldman, are not giving up their green yards. Feldman said years ago, her family got rid of their green grass and put in plants that require less water.
"No, I'm not going to ruin... I love my plants. And I'll just have to pay for them,” she said.
While conserving water is important to her, Feldman said she will find other ways to do it.
The Santa Fe Irrigation District, which provides water to Feldman and her neighbors, is one of four San Diego County districts in the highest tier of water conservation.
The Santa Fe, Valley Center, Rainbow Municipal and Fallbrook Public Utility districts must save 36 percent of their water, starting on July 1, according to mandates set by the State Water Resources Control Board.
See the chart below to find out how much each district in San Diego County must save in the months to come.
