Weber State University conserving water through xeriscaping
May 31, 2024, 8:00 PM | Updated: Jun 6, 2024, 3:23 pm
Students at Weber State University work to xeriscape areas on campus. This is part of a goal to reduce water use university-wide by 30%. (Drew Hodge)
(Drew Hodge)
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State is making changes to conserve water, by implementing a “water action plan.”
The plan aims to reduce water use by 30% by 2025.
Drew Hodge, the university’s water conservation and stormwater coordinator, said one of the main steps the school is taking is xeriscaping, or taking out grass to install more drought-resistant landscaping.
They’re also installing new irrigation systems which have water meters and a master valve to monitor water use and identify leaks.
Weber State “Water Warriors Challenge”
“I run a program with the landscape shop and the plumbing shop,” Hodge said. “I call it the “water warrior” program.
The challenge will specifically involve landscaping and plumbing students, and incentivize them to find areas that aren’t performing well and are hard to take care of. They’ll then fix them through xeriscaping measures.
“We are not just totally getting rid of all grass everywhere,” Hodge said. “We try and make the area more inviting and really leave grass where people are going to use it, recreate on it.”
Last year, Weber State saved more than 41,000,000 gallons of water and that number is expected to just keep climbing.
Read more:
- ‘The Office’ actor Rainn Wilson offers laughter and advice to Weber State grads
- Taun Beddes: Reasons why your lawn is suddenly turning brown
Read more stories about Utah’s drought from KSL NewsRadio.
