How Much Water Can You Save with Artificial Turf in Southern California?

Dramatically cut your water usage and bills by swapping your natural grass for artificial turf – see how Inland Empire homeowners save thousands of gallons.

Southern California is no stranger to drought. In communities like Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and other Inland Empire cities, conserving water is a way of life. Homeowners face periodic watering restrictions and rising water costs, especially when trying to keep a traditional grass lawn green under the hot sun. If you’re wondering how much water you could save by installing artificial turf, the answer is: a lot. Synthetic grass has become a popular water-wise solution for Southern California yards. In this post, we’ll break down just how much water an artificial lawn saves and why that’s so important for our region.

The Thirst of a Natural Lawn

It’s surprising how much water a conventional grass lawn can drink. To stay healthy and green, an average Southern California lawn requires frequent irrigation. Studies have found that a traditional grass yard can consume around 55 gallons of water per square foot each year​scturf.com. Consider a typical 1,000-square-foot lawn in a city like Upland – it might use over 50,000 gallons of water annually if kept lush. All that irrigation adds up quickly on your water meter. During summer heat waves in the Inland Empire, sprinklers often run multiple times a week to prevent lawns from turning brown. Unfortunately, a lot of this water is lost to runoff or evaporation in the hot, dry air. Natural grass simply has an enormous appetite for water, and in our drought-prone climate, quenching that thirst puts a strain on local supplies.

How Artificial Turf Saves Water

Switching from natural grass to artificial turf virtually eliminates the need for irrigation. Once your synthetic grass is installed, you no longer have to water it daily like you would real sod. The only water your fake lawn might need is an occasional rinse for cleaning, which is minimal. By replacing a live lawn with quality artificial turf, homeowners can cut their outdoor water use by 50-70% or more. According to the Irvine Ranch Water District, a typical residential lawn of about 750 sq. ft. that is converted to synthetic turf can save approximately 22,000 gallons of water per year​progreen.com. Imagine saving that much every year going forward. In Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario, where summer drought restrictions often limit lawn watering to just a couple days per week, having an artificial lawn means you’re not worried about your grass surviving – you’re saving water effortlessly. Whether your yard is 500 sq. ft. or 5,000, the reduction in water usage with artificial grass is dramatic. This is water you don’t have to buy from the utility and don’t have to feel guilty about using during a drought.

Lower Bills and Big Environmental Impact

Using less water isn’t just good for the environment – it’s also great for your budget. Cutting out tens of thousands of gallons from your yearly usage will significantly shrink your water bills. In many San Bernardino County communities, water rates are tiered, which means heavy lawn watering can push you into higher-cost usage tiers. By installing drought-tolerant synthetic grass, you’ll likely notice a drop in your monthly bill, especially during the peak summer months. Over a few years, those savings can help offset the cost of the turf installation itself. Meanwhile, the environmental benefits are huge. Every gallon of water saved is a gallon preserved in local reservoirs and aquifers for essential uses. When lots of homeowners in a neighborhood switch to artificial turf, the collective water savings help reduce strain on the city’s water supply during drought season. Additionally, less watering means less runoff carrying fertilizers and pesticides into storm drains – yet another ecological plus. You’re not only saving water, but also contributing to a healthier local environment by minimizing chemical runoff.

Thriving in Drought Conditions

California’s cyclical droughts aren’t going away, and water conservation rules are getting stricter. Installing artificial turf is an effective way to future-proof your landscape against water shortages. When mandatory water cuts hit (as we’ve seen in recent years across the Inland Empire), homes with synthetic lawns already meet the reduction targets with ease. Your lawn stays green even under watering bans, all while neighbors with natural grass struggle to keep theirs alive. Some water agencies and cities even offer rebates or incentives for replacing natural grass with drought-friendly landscaping because it helps achieve community conservation goals (we’ll cover local rebate programs in a later post). By choosing an artificial lawn now, you’re staying ahead of potential regulations and ensuring your yard will look great no matter how dry the summer gets. It’s a proactive step that benefits both you and the broader Southern California community working to save water.

The water-saving potential of artificial turf in Southern California is undeniable. For homeowners in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding areas, switching to synthetic grass can save tens of thousands of gallons of water each year, leading to lower utility bills and a more sustainable lifestyle. In a region where every drop counts, making your lawn water-free is a smart and responsible choice. If you’re ready to transform your thirsty grass into a beautiful drought-tolerant lawn, Rancho Turf Pros can help. Our expert Turf Installation team will give you a gorgeous yard that stays green with virtually no watering. Contact us today for a consultation and take the first step towards a water-wise landscape that will thrive even in the toughest drought conditions.

MORE INFO ON TURF INSTALLATION HERE