San Antonio Adopts Conservation Ordinance

 

Published in The Pallet, the Newsletter for the Turfgrass Producers of Texas

March 2005

TPT logoWith only one minor change, the San Antonio City Council adopted the conservation ordinance proposed by the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) on January 20, 2005. According to SAWS projections, the ordinance provisions should result in over 1.3 billion gallons of water saved per year. That translates into a per capita reduction of 3 gallons per person per day.

The effects on turfgrass are largely positive. The ordinance calls for a minimum of four inches of topsoil under newly installed turfgrass. In-ground irrigation systems will need to be zonal irrigation systems. Irrigation systems equipped with irrigation controllers must have rain sensors installed and maintained.

The original proposed ordinance would have limited turfgrass to fifty percent of the landscape and would have banned St. Augustine except in shady areas. Those provisions were not in the adopted rules. Homebuilders will offer a xeriscape option that will limit turfgrass to fifty percent but it is only an option. Beginning in 2007, new residential and commercial landscapes can use only turfgrasses that have summer dormancy capabilities. This restriction applies only to homebuilders and not to homeowners, according to Calvin Finch, Conservation Manager with SAWS.

With the exception of the summer dormancy requirements, the provisions will go into effect in January 2006. TPT is working with SAWS to conduct studies that will determine which varieties have the summer dormancy capabilities. According to SAWS, summer dormancy is defined as the "ability of turfgrass to survive without water for a period of sixty consecutive days during the months of May through September".

David Doguet, John Cosper and Diana Cosper represented TPT at the City Council meeting where the ordinance was discussed. John Cosper addressed the Council concerning the benefits of turfgrass to the quality of life in San Antonio and told about ongoing research efforts to develop more water efficient grasses.

City Councilman Richard Perez expressed concern that once the studies were done a handful of growers would control the approved varieties and stated that he wanted to meet with the "turfgrass industry" and SAWS prior to the list being approved. Perez indicated that his family had been in turfgrass farming. He currently has a family owned landscaping business.

The preceding information is published in GreenNews Online with the permission of the Turfgrass Producers of Texas (TPT). Chartered in 1972, the purpose of the Association is to maintain a trade association of individuals and firms engaged in the business of producing and marketing sod in the State of Texas. For more information, visit txsod.com.