10 Water Conservation Tips for El Paso Homeowners

In El Paso’s desert climate – only about 9 inches of rain per year – outdoor watering can send your water bills skyrocketing.

In fact, nationwide about 30% of home water usage goes to outdoor purposes, and over half of that is for lawns and gardens. This is even higher in hot, dry regions like West Texas.

The good news is there are many ways to save water (and money) while keeping your home and yard beautiful.

El Paso has long promoted conservation through watering schedules and even limits on turf lawn size, so adopting the right strategies will benefit both your wallet and the community.

Here are 10 effective water-conservation tips for El Paso homeowners to cut down outdoor water use (where it counts most) and some smart indoor tweaks to lower your bills.

1. Replace Natural Grass with Artificial Turf

One of the biggest water guzzlers is a traditional grass lawn. Replacing natural grass with artificial turf can eliminate nearly all of that irrigation demand.

Consider that a living lawn of 1,000 sq ft in a dry climate can soak up to 50,000 gallons of water per year. By switching to synthetic grass, you save all of that water – no more sprinklers needed. That’s a huge impact on your bill and our water supply.

Artificial turf stays green year-round with minimal maintenance, which is a big plus in El Paso where maintaining a lush lawn is challenging under watering restrictions.

Modern artificial grass looks realistic and lasts 10–15 years, providing a long-term solution for a beautiful yard that doesn’t drink a drop.

By eliminating the need to irrigate grass, you can reduce your outdoor water use by 55–75% or more. That means major savings on your monthly bill and less strain on El Paso’s water resources.

Plus, you’ll save time on mowing and money on fertilizers. It’s truly a win-win for you and the environment.

2. Xeriscape with Native Plants

For areas you don’t cover with artificial turf, consider xeriscaping – a landscaping approach that uses native, drought-tolerant plants, gravel, and mulch instead of water-hungry grass.

El Paso homeowners often conserve water by using low-water desert plants (like cacti, yucca, sage) and crushed rock in their gardens. Not only do these native plants thrive with little watering, but they also add Southwest beauty to your home.

To get started, replace sections of lawn or high-maintenance flowerbeds with hardy shrubs, succulents, and groundcovers that naturally do well in the Chihuahuan Desert climate.

• Use native plants: Indigenous species are adapted to our arid conditions and can survive on minimal rainfall once established. Visit El Paso Desert Blooms (a local WaterSmart gardening resource) for ideas on colorful native plants and landscape designs suited for our area.
  
  
• Apply plenty of mulch: Spread bark mulch or gravel around plants to lock in soil moisture and reduce evaporation. Mulch keeps roots cool and helps any watering last longer.
  

• Group plants by water needs: Keep high-water-use plants (if any) in one area and low-water plants in another so you can irrigate each zone appropriately without overwatering anything.

By xeriscaping and mulching, you can cut landscape watering by up to 50%. In fact, El Paso’s city code even limits traditional turf grass to 50% of your landscape area – encouraging residents to embrace WaterSmart yards.

A xeriscaped yard not only conserves water, it also requires less upkeep and stays attractive year-round. You’ll be amazed how lush and vibrant a well-planned desert landscape can be, with butterflies and hummingbirds enjoying the native flora, all while your sprinklers stay off most of the time.

3. Follow Smart Watering Schedules

When you do water your lawn or garden, how and when you do it makes a big difference.

In El Paso, watering at the wrong time of day can lead to most of the water evaporating in the desert heat instead of nourishing your plants.

Follow these smart watering practices to avoid waste:

• Water during the right hours: Always water early in the morning or in the late evening when temperatures are cooler and the sun is low. El Paso’s water conservation ordinance actually prohibits watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in summer months because midday watering is inefficient – you can lose a huge portion of water to evaporation. By watering before the sun is intense, more moisture soaks into your soil and reaches roots.
  

• Follow the city’s schedule: El Paso allows landscape watering up to three days a week on an odd/even schedule (e.g. even-numbered addresses water Tue/Thu/Sat). Stick to these designated days and never water on Mondays, which are a city-wide no-watering day. Spreading out your watering days helps maintain soil moisture without over-saturating, and it ensures the municipal supply isn’t over-taxed on any given day. (Ignoring the schedule can result in fines $50–$500, so it pays to comply.)
  

• Water deeply but infrequently: It’s better to give your lawn a good, deep soak a few times a week than to do a shallow sprinkle every day. Deep watering encourages plants to grow deeper roots, which makes them more drought-tolerant. Light daily watering, by contrast, can cause shallow roots and weaker plants. So even though you can water up to 3x a week, you might find 1–2 thorough waterings are enough for many native landscapes.

Also be mindful of wind – don’t water when it’s very windy, as much of the water will drift away. And if rain is in the forecast or just occurred, skip your watering day.

By timing your irrigation wisely and following the local rules, you ensure every drop counts for your yard. Your plants will actually be healthier, and you won’t be literally pouring water (and money) down the drain.

4. Upgrade to Efficient Irrigation Systems

Traditional sprinklers can be very wasteful – they fling water into the air where much evaporates or blows off target. A smarter approach for El Paso is to upgrade your irrigation system to use water much more efficiently:

• Install drip irrigation: Drip irrigation or soaker hoses deliver water slowly and directly to plant roots. Instead of spraying water everywhere, drip emitters release water at ground level, right where shrubs or flowers need it. This can cut water use by 30-50% compared to sprinklers, because almost no water is lost to evaporation or runoff. Drip systems are perfect for garden beds, trees, and even lawn perimeters. They also help prevent the “water flowing into the street” scenario (which is prohibited by city rules). In fact, during drought stages the city often allows only drip or micro-irrigation systems for outdoor watering – a testament to how much more efficient drip systems are in saving water.
  

• Use a smart controller: Consider installing a weather-based irrigation controller (smart sprinkler timer). These devices adjust your watering schedule automatically based on weather conditions, soil moisture, and season. For example, if we get a rare rainy day or the humidity is high, the smart controller will skip or reduce watering. Likewise, it can prevent over-watering in cooler months. The result is a “just right” amount of water for your landscape. According to El Paso Water, a weather-adjusting smart controller can save 18,000–27,000 gallons of water per year on average. That’s a substantial reduction! Many models also have features like leak detection and smartphone apps to monitor usage.

Upgrading your irrigation tech not only saves water but also makes yard care easier. You won’t have to constantly fiddle with manual timers or remember to turn sprinklers on and off.

As a bonus, El Paso Water offers rebates for certain irrigation upgrades – for instance, there’s a rebate for installing a smart controller on your sprinkler system. Check the EPWater conservation rebate programs for details, as you could get some money back for making your irrigation more efficient. In the long run, these upgrades pay for themselves through lower water bills and healthier plants.

5. Check and Fix Leaks Regularly

Leaky plumbing and irrigation can quietly waste astonishing amounts of water. A dripping faucet, a running toilet, or a cracked irrigation pipe might seem minor, but those losses add up 24/7 – and you’re still paying for all of it.

In El Paso, water waste from leaks is taken so seriously that not repairing a known leak within five days is considered a violation of the conservation ordinance. Stay on top of leaks to save water and avoid any penalties.

What to do: Make it a habit to inspect your water systems regularly:

• Outdoors: Walk your yard and examine your sprinkler heads, drip lines, and hose connections. Look for damp spots or small pools in the grass which could indicate an underground leak. Watch the system run occasionally; if you see water gushing from a broken sprinkler head or a hose with low pressure (could signal a line break), fix it promptly. A single broken sprinkler head can waste hundreds of gallons in one watering session. Also, check garden hose fittings and outdoor faucets for drips – replace washers or tighten connections to stop any leaks.
  

• Indoors: Inspect under sinks for drips, listen for running toilets (a flapper valve leak can waste dozens of gallons a day), and check your water heater and washer connections for moisture. An easy test: read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water should be in use; if it moved, you likely have a hidden leak. Many toilets have silent leaks – you can put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait 20 minutes (no flushing), and see if color appears in the bowl. If yes, the flapper or seal needs replacing.

Fixing leaks is usually cheap (a few dollars for a part) and it pays off immediately. You’ll conserve water and prevent water damage to your home.

According to EPA, household leaks can waste nearly 10,000 gallons a year on average – much of that from toilets and faucets. Don’t let your hard-earned money literally drip away; a dry fixture is a happy fixture!

6. Avoid Wasting Water on Outdoor Cleaning and Car Washing

It’s easy to forget how much water common outdoor chores can use. Hosing down the driveway or washing your car in the driveway can send tens of gallons straight into the gutter.

In El Paso, using water inefficiently for cleaning is not only costly, it’s also discouraged by local rules (you’re actually not allowed to hose down sidewalks/driveways except for safety reasons).

Here’s how to clean up without the waste:

• Sweep, don’t spray: Instead of blasting leaves or dirt off your driveway, patio, or sidewalk with a hose, use a broom. It requires a little elbow grease, but you’ll save a lot of water. Using a hose for 10 minutes can use 50+ gallons; a broom uses zero. Plus, keeping that water off the pavement prevents it from carrying pollutants into the storm drains.
  

• Be smart with car washing: The best option is to take your car to a commercial car wash. Most modern car washes recycle water and use high-pressure nozzles that clean effectively with less water than a hose at home. You can save an estimated 30 to 90 gallons per wash by going to a car wash instead of doing it yourself in the driveway. If you do wash at home, do it the water-wise way: use a bucket of soapy water, and use a hose only for a quick rinse, with a shut-off nozzle attached so water isn’t running continuously. Never let water just flow unchecked on the pavement.

By changing these habits, you’ll see a noticeable dip in your water use. Small actions, like sweeping up or using a nozzle, can save thousands of gallons over a year. And your property will still be just as clean!

It’s about doing the job efficiently. Remember, every gallon you don’t waste is a gallon saved for when it’s truly needed.

7. Use Pool Covers to Reduce Evaporation

Have a swimming pool?

In El Paso’s hot, dry air, an uncovered pool can lose a startling amount of water to evaporation. Cover your pool when it’s not in use – it’s one of the simplest yet most impactful water-saving tips for pool owners.

According to El Paso Water, using a pool cover (especially a solar cover) can save up to 100,000 gallons of water per year that would otherwise evaporate. That’s because the cover acts as a barrier, keeping water from vaporizing into the air, particularly during our sunny, windy days.

Not only does a cover save water, it also keeps your pool cleaner and warmer. Less evaporation means you won’t need to constantly refill the pool (which also saves on your water bill). It also means your pool’s chemicals stay more balanced, since you’re not losing water and chlorine to the atmosphere so rapidly. Overall, a covered pool is easier and cheaper to maintain.

Pool covers come in a variety of types – from bubble-wrap-like solar blankets to sturdy automatic retractable covers. Whichever you choose, make sure it fits well to minimize gaps. Use it whenever you’re not swimming, especially during the hot afternoons and on windy days.

El Paso Water offers a rebate for pool covers as part of its conservation program, so you might recoup some of the cost of the cover. With a cover, you can enjoy your backyard oasis with far less guilt about water waste – a smart move in our desert environment.

8. Harvest Rainwater and Reuse Greywater

Even in the desert, we get the occasional heavy rain (particularly during monsoon season). Why not capture some of that free rainwater and use it for your plants?

Setting up a rain harvesting system is relatively easy: you can install rain barrels or cisterns at your downspouts to collect runoff from your roof. Then, use that stored rainwater to water your garden or potted plants during dry spells.

Every gallon you harvest is a gallon you don’t need to pull from the city supply. Collecting rain also helps reduce flooding and erosion by slowing runoff.

While El Paso doesn’t get tons of rainfall, when it does rain you might collect hundreds of gallons even from a modest roof – it all helps in the long run.

Additionally, consider reusing greywater – which is gently used water from sinks, showers, or laundry (not from toilets).

One popular method is a “laundry-to-landscape” system that diverts washing machine rinse water out to your yard to irrigate non-edible plants. For example, the water that drains from your washer can be routed to water trees, shrubs, or your lawn.

Done properly, this is safe and can significantly reduce how often you need to use fresh tap water for irrigation. El Paso Water is encouraging this; in fact, they provide a rebate up to $250 for installing a laundry-to-landscape greywater system at home. That covers a big chunk of the installation cost!

9. Upgrade to Water-Efficient Fixtures and Appliances

While outdoor savings have the biggest impact in El Paso, don’t overlook the indoor opportunities to conserve water. By upgrading old fixtures and appliances in your home, you can substantially cut water usage without sacrificing comfort.

Here are some upgrades to consider:

• High-efficiency toilets: Older toilets can use 3–5 gallons per flush, whereas modern WaterSense-labeled toilets use only about 1.28 gallons per flush. That adds up to thousands of gallons saved over a year. El Paso Water offers a $50 rebate per toilet (up to 2) for installing approved high-efficiency toilets. These new toilets flush just as effectively – or better – than old ones, using a fraction of the water.
  

• Efficient washing machines: If your clothes washer is more than 10 years old, it’s likely a water hog. New ENERGY STAR washing machines use 30% less water (and 20% less energy) than standard models. Front-loading washers are especially efficient. EPWater has a $100 rebate for upgrading to a high-efficiency washer. You’ll not only save water, but also cut your energy bill and get cleaner clothes with gentler high-tech wash cycles.
  

• Low-flow showerheads and faucets: Install WaterSense showerheads and faucet aerators. A standard older showerhead might flow at 2.5+ gallons per minute, while a WaterSense model uses 2.0 gpm or less – saving you gallons every shower without noticeably different pressure. Likewise, faucet aerators can reduce flow for sinks. These devices are inexpensive and easy to install. Some utilities even give them out for free or cheap. The cumulative savings from daily use are significant.

Upgrading indoor fixtures often provides a quick payback. For example, replacing an old 5 GPF toilet with a 1.28 GPF model could save around 4 gallons each flush – multiply that by flushes per day, per year, and you’re easily saving thousands of gallons annually. The same goes for efficient washers and showerheads.

Many of these improvements not only conserve water but also improve your home’s value and functionality. Take advantage of rebate programs and modern technology – your wallet will thank you every month.

10. Practice Smart Water Habits Inside the Home

Last but not least, change your daily habits to eliminate water waste indoors. Small changes in behavior can add up to big results on your bill. Encourage your whole family to adopt these water-smart habits:

• Take shorter showers: Try to keep showers to 5 minutes or less. You can even set a timer or play a short song to time it. A 5-minute shower can save a family thousands of gallons per year compared to lingering 10+ minutes. If you love baths, limit them or only fill the tub halfway.
  

• Turn off the tap while brushing and shaving: Don’t let water just run down the drain. Wet your toothbrush, then turn off the faucet until you need to rinse. Same when washing your face or shaving – fill the sink a bit if needed, but don’t waste a constant stream. Simply turning off the water while brushing teeth can save about 12 gallons a day (over 4,000 gallons a year per person).
  

• Run full loads in dishwasher and laundry: Wait until you have a full load before running the dishwasher or washing machine. These appliances are most efficient with full loads. Avoid the “small load” setting unless absolutely necessary. One full dishwasher load uses less water than two half-loads. Likewise, a full laundry load optimizes water use (and energy).

By practicing these habits, you create a water-conscious household culture. Remember, water is precious in El Paso, and every person doing their part makes a difference.

Over time, these habits become second nature. You’ll not only conserve water and cut bills, but also instill values of sustainability in any children or others in your home.

Conclusion

Living in a desert city means we all must be smart about water use. By focusing on outdoor conservation – from installing artificial turf or xeriscaping, to watering wisely and upgrading irrigation – you can dramatically reduce your water consumption where it counts most.

Indoor fixes and habits round out the effort, chipping away at excess use in our daily routines. The payoff is clear: lower water bills, a sustainable yard, and the peace of mind that you’re doing your part in a community that has long valued conservation.

Implement these tips and you’ll see the difference. Every drop saved is money saved – and a step toward preserving El Paso’s water resources for generations to come. Happy saving!