Why Water Conservation Matters
Why is water conservation important for Church properties?
Water is a sacred and finite resource, and caring for the earth is part of our divine stewardship. Thoughtful water use demonstrates respect for creation, supports community well-being, and aligns with broader efforts to live sustainably and wisely. See section 35.4.4 of the “General Handbook.”
In many areas, especially the western United States, water scarcity is a growing concern. By reducing water use, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports community resilience, protects natural ecosystems, and models responsible environmental practices.
Smart Controllers and Sprinkler Management
What are smart controllers and how do they work?
Smart controllers are advanced timers for irrigation systems that optimize watering schedules by using current weather data, soil characteristics, site conditions, plant information, and watering preferences to determine when and how much to water.
Why might I see sprinklers going off at unexpected times?
Because smart controllers use current weather data to maximize water uptake, they may operate at unusual times. The controllers might water more frequently in short bursts, at inconsistent hours, or even during a rainstorm.
In some cases, the local municipal water authority also restricts the time of day the Church is allowed to irrigate.
How much water will smart controllers save?
With this implementation, the Church is hoping to reduce meetinghouse water consumption by over 500 million gallons of water in the first year of full operation. This would be equivalent to filling over 750 Olympic-sized swimming pools laid end to end.
Who is managing the smart controllers?
The Church’s Facilities Management teams oversee the implementation and operation of smart controllers by landscape contractors. Their efforts are guided by water-wise irrigation principles and supported by Church employees overseeing water management at headquarters.
Landscaping Practices and Appearance
Why does the grass at my meetinghouse look so long?
Longer turfgrass helps retain moisture and reduce water usage. This is part of the Church’s broader water conservation strategy.
What is reseeding?
Reseeding is a landscape renewal process of working within the existing parameter of a lawn stand, removing old turf grasses, and replacing them with new, water-wise mixes.
Why is reseeding effective?
In locations where we have existing, functional, recreational lawns, it makes sense to preserve the designed intent of the useful grass. Reseeding lawns with grass that requires less water is more cost-effective than removing the existing grass and replacing it with shrubs and mulch that require costly irrigation upgrades.
Water-Wise Landscaping and Conservation
What is the Church doing about nonfunctional/decorative turf?
While the Church will retain grass lawns on select properties for active recreational purposes, grass lawns that only serve a decorative function will be slowly phased out in parts of the Intermountain West.
Where is the Church focusing its water-wise landscaping efforts?
The Church began implementing water-wise landscaping in the early 2000s, designing properties to better reflect their local climates.
Efforts are underway to significantly reduce nonfunctional turf within the Great Salt Lake Basin as well as to remove it from other areas experiencing regulatory requirements aimed at relieving water scarcity, including:
· Southern Utah
· Arizona
· Southern Nevada (in compliance with state legislation)
Additional areas with high water scarcity also are being evaluated for water-wise landscaping, such as:
· Central Utah
· Eastern Snake River Basin in Idaho
Considerations for water-wise projects include:
· Total square footage of nonfunctional turf
· Water use compared to similarly sized properties
· Water usage anomalies
· Age and design of irrigation systems
· Plant material and irrigation system design
How much water can be saved through retrofitting?
Retrofitted facilities aim for at least 50% water savings, compared to a traditional lawn-heavy landscape.
Getting Involved
How can I report issues with sprinklers or irrigation?
Please report broken heads and burst or leaking pipes to the local ward or stake building representative, who can escalate the issue to the building’s facilities manager.
What can members and community neighbors do to help?
Church members and community neighbors in the Intermountain West are encouraged to find ways to conserve water on their own properties by working with local water agencies, properly adjusting irrigation systems for efficiency, and, where practicable, converting existing landscape elements to water-wise landscapes.
Additional Resource
How the Church Is Saving 500 Million Gallons of Water in the Western US