Grass Is The Most Wasteful Crop In The US | True Cost | Insider Business

Insider Business explores the impact of water scarcity and drought in Nevada, where the state has become the first to ban lawns due to water shortages. It discusses the enforcement of water regulations, the decline of the Lake Mead reservoir, efforts to reduce water usage, and the shift towards water-efficient landscapes in Las Vegas.

Grass Is The Most Wasteful Crop In The US. Should We Ban It? | True Cost | Insider Business

• Nevada is the first state to ban lawns due to water scarcity caused by decades of drought.
• Water cops enforce regulations on water usage, issuing warnings and fines for violations.
• The Lake Mead reservoir, fed by the shrinking Colorado River, is experiencing a significant decline in water levels.
• Nevada aims to reduce water use by 2-4 million acre-feet per year to meet the region's growing water demands.
• The state is implementing laws to limit turf usage, including a ban on useless grass and incentives for property owners to remove turf.
• Landscaping companies are adapting by replacing turf with native plants and rock landscapes.
• The cultural significance of lawns as status symbols and amenities is challenged in the face of water scarcity.
• The history of lawns in the United States is rooted in imported grass species and the rise of golf courses.
• The ecological impact of lawns is highlighted, as they are considered ecological dead zones with limited wildlife habitat.
• Farms like Valley Sod supply turf to commercial properties, while residential turf usage is decreasing.
• The water for sod farms in Nevada comes from aquifers fed by surrounding mountains, carefully managed to ensure efficient usage.
• The transition to water-efficient landscapes and desert landscapes is becoming more common in Las Vegas neighborhoods.
• Water scarcity and drought may redefine the concept of the traditional American yard.