Water shortages are a potential problem – however, it’s not necessary to go as far as full-scale xeriscaping.

Large trees require less water than grass lawns. Their deep roots allow you to reduce irrigation frequency and reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. Besides, they create shade, keeping direct sunlight away from the soil.

Plant trees, use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers. Cover the ground with mulch. Set up the irrigation system to run once a week, less frequently during the rainy season (November through March). Best time to water is late in the evening, at least a couple of hours after sunset.

Send some letters to our government and ask them to build a desalinization plant.

Can’t make any promises, but you should be able to keep the landscaping component of your watering bill under $100/month.