Grass-to-Desert Water Savings Calculator
See roughly how much water and money your HOA or commercial property could save by converting unused grass to desert landscaping.
Grass nobody uses is one of the most expensive things on a property. Here's how much.
Not sure? A football field is about 57,600 sq ft. A typical HOA park is 20,000 to 60,000 sq ft.
Find it on your water bill. Many Valley cities bill by the "unit" or CCF, which is 748 gallons.
Estimated water saved per year
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gallons per year (planning range)
Estimates use 23 to 50 gallons saved per square foot per year (sources below). Your actual savings depend on how the grass is watered today and what replaces it.
Where these numbers come from
The University of Arizona says an overseeded Bermuda lawn in the low desert needs more than 55 inches of irrigation a year, while a desert landscape needs under 18 inches. That difference works out to about 23 gallons per square foot per year for a lawn that's watered exactly as much as it needs.
In practice, most lawns get more water than they need. Scottsdale's grass-removal program found participants saved around 50 gallons per square foot per year on average. The calculator shows the range between the two.
Do it the right way
- Check for rebates first. Many cities pay for grass removal, but only if you're approved before work starts. See our city-by-city rebate guide.
- Keep the grass people use. Convert streetscapes, slopes and decorative areas; keep play and gathering spaces.
- Protect your trees. Trees that were watered by the lawn need their own drip irrigation after the conversion.
- Plan the look. Good conversions use plants, boulders and decomposed granite, not just bare rock.
Want real numbers for your property?
We'll walk the site, measure the grass and show you what to convert, what to keep and which rebates apply.
Water savings questions
How much water does grass use in Phoenix?
A lot. The University of Arizona says a Bermuda lawn overseeded with winter grass in the low desert needs more than 55 inches of irrigation a year, compared with under 18 inches for a desert (xeriscape) landscape.
How much water does removing grass save?
Roughly 23 to 50 gallons per square foot per year. The lower number assumes a lawn watered exactly as much as it needs; the higher number is what Scottsdale's grass-removal program participants actually saved on average.
Does converting grass make sense for an HOA or commercial property?
Usually for grass nobody walks on or uses: streetscapes, medians, slopes and decorative areas. Keep grass where people actually play, gather or walk their dogs, and convert the rest.
Will my city help pay for it?
Many Valley cities offer rebates for removing grass or upgrading irrigation. Never remove grass before your application is approved. See our city-by-city rebate guide for links to each program.
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives a planning range, not a guarantee. Actual savings depend on how the grass is watered today, whether it's overseeded in winter, the condition of the irrigation system and what replaces the grass.
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