Florida is facing critical water scarcity due to population growth. The home landscape is an opportune setting to make changes in practices to conserve water. Extension programs on water conservation in the landscape can provide residents with the information they need to adopt new practices to conserve water. In 2021-2023, UF/IFAS Extension residential horticulture programs in Central Florida, educated 6,474 residents about sustainable landscape practices. Based on client self-reported follow-up surveys (n=342), the annual water savings due to adoption of best landscaping practices was approximately 11.6 million gallons. It saved homeowners $49,977 in utility bills (based on regional value of $4.30 per 1,000 gallons). The most adopted practices included calibrating sprinkler systems to deliver ½ inch to ¾ inch of water instead of 1 inch, reducing irrigation frequency during summer, and reducing irrigation frequency during winter. Adoption is lower for water conservation practices that require installing soil moisture sensors and converting or installing irrigation spray heads. Participants reported (n=342): 35% eliminated irrigation or converted to low volume irrigation, 46% reduced irrigation from 3 to 2 days per week, 45% reduced irrigation frequency in winter, 46% reduced irrigation frequency in summer, 25% using a working rain shutoff device, 37% calibrated irrigation to ½” or ¾” rather than 1” or more. Impacts of changes in household water use multiply when life cycle assessment of a water supply system is considered. The reduction of 11.6 million gallons of residential water use resulted in saving 40,022 kWh of energy and $30,162 in treating and delivering water to the end users, reducing 28 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions, deferring the need for $98,734 investment in alternative water supply infrastructure, and potentially reducing stormwater runoff and avoiding water quality deterioration. The impacts of these water conservation efforts are even greater than the values represented here based on total program attendance. This shows the efforts of extension agents educational programs resulted in measurable water savings to help Florida households conserve water.
