SNWA Conversion Q&A

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What Are SNWA Conversions?

Grass requires a lot of water to maintain. With trees more helpful to residents and the environment, it made sense to make some water conservation efforts to protect Nevada trees.

The SNWA has mandated that all non-functional turf be converted into desert landscaping by 2026. If that’s all you knew, you’d have many questions. We will answer them below.

What is Non-Functional Turf?

The SNWA defines non-functional turf as grass growing on medians, government, and commercial property. Exempt from the “non-functional” label is residential grass.

Though these conversions can be a formidable project that includes both time and labor, the SNWA is doing its best to make it worth the while for the converters. They’re offering “$3 per square foot of grass removed and replaced for the first 10,000 square feet converted, and $1.50 per square foot thereafter per property.”

Not bad for a mandatory change that will also benefit the changers!

What Is an Acceptable Conversion?

There are many choices for converting your non-functional turf to desert landscaping, but not all are created equal. You might choose the sort of plants you naturally find in the desert, like cacti or succulents. Other choices include abiotic (nonliving) materials like stones or artificial turf.

Many companies are offering to tear up turf and replace it with rock. The problem is that when companies perform conversions ineffectively, you risk water runoff, drainage, and erosion issues. You also may end up defeating the purpose of the conversion, helping trees, because when done incorrectly, water will be unable to be absorbed by the trees’ roots.

Will My Home Be Affected?

As a homeowner, you will not have to convert your lawn away from grass, but that doesn’t mean you can’t or don’t want to. Homeowners are still encouraged to convert their lawns and can still receive the benefits of turf conversions. In addition, it’s not implausible that homes may eventually be required to convert as well, so changing your turf over now will get you ahead of the game.

What Are the Benefits of a SNWA Conversion?

In some ways, saying goodbye to grass won’t be easy. After all, the lawn has long been the symbol of American success – so much so that shows such as King of the Hill have parodied it. But the benefits of replacing turf should outweigh any costs.

Environmental

The reason behind these conversions is environmental, so it’s no surprise that your modification will improve the world around you. Not only will your choice be more earth-friendly, but you may be surprised by how pleasant your new environment is!

Less Upkeep

Trying to turn a desert into a grassland takes a lot of work! But, do you know what’s easier? Keeping a desert a desert!

Your landscaping will be easier and less costly after a conversion.

Fewer Pests

Lawns attract more pests, as does standing water that overwatering causes. You’ll get to enjoy fewer mosquitos and other unwanted critters.

Money Savings

Not only will the SNWA conversions come with a nice payout for all who comply, but your yearly landscaping costs will go down over the long term.

The SNWA estimates that conversions will save 825,000 gallons of water every year! Some of that will reflect in your water bill. The desert doesn’t naturally support grass, so changing your approach from fighting the environment to living within its confines will pay off over time.

Clean and Green Conversions

At Clean & Green, we design our conversions to go beyond mere compliance. We will convert your lawn to artificial turf or other desert landscaping in a way that will be beneficial to you and your yard. We understand how everything we do will affect the other plants in your landscape and will ensure that our work creates a better environment for your trees and other plants.