Last Updated on March 3, 2025 by ReTurf

For homeowners and businesses interested in reducing water consumption, artificial turf can be a straightforward way to eliminate the need for irrigation. A natural lawn can require tens of thousands of gallons of water per year, and is one of the biggest contributors to residential water use—especially in hotter, drier regions.

In places like Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and others where drought conditions and water restrictions are common, keeping real grass alive can be both costly and unsustainable. Artificial turf removes that demand almost entirely.

With no regular watering needed, the difference in water use is significant. But just how much does it save in practical terms? And how do those savings vary by region? Looking at the numbers puts the impact into perspective.

How Much Water Does a Natural Lawn Use?

Here in the United States, outdoor water use accounts for nearly 30% of the average household’s total water consumption, and in dry regions, that number can grow as high as 60%. (Source) Naturally, lawn irrigation is a major contributor.

  • The average American lawn requires about 55 gallons of water per square foot per year to stay green.
  • That means a typical 1,000 sq. ft. lawn can consume over 55,000 gallons annually—the equivalent of more than 1,300 bathtubs of water.
  • In hotter, drier states like California, Nevada, and Arizona, where grass struggles without heavy irrigation, that number can be even higher.

When you replace grass with artificial turf, nearly all of this irrigation water is eliminated. That’s a massive reduction, especially in drought-prone areas.

Artificial Turf’s Water Needs: Practically Zero

One of the biggest advantages of artificial turf is that it eliminates the need for irrigation entirely. A living grass lawn demands thousands of gallons of water per year, while artificial turf requires almost none.

For most homeowners, water use on synthetic grass is negligible. The only times water comes into play are:

  1. Pet Owners May Need to Rinse It Occasionally – If pets use artificial turf as a bathroom area, some homeowners rinse it down with a hose to prevent odors. However, this still requires a fraction of the water needed to maintain real grass.
  2. Some People Hose It Down in Extreme Heat – Artificial turf can heat up in direct sunlight, and in hotter regions, some owners choose to spray it lightly to cool it down before use. This is more of a comfort preference than a necessity.
  3. Periodic Cleaning for Debris or Dust – In areas with minimal rainfall, dust buildup might lead some people to rinse their turf every few months, but again, the amount of water used is minimal.

Estimated Water Use for Artificial Turf (per 1,000 sq. ft., annually)

Use Case Estimated Water Use (Gallons/Year)
Minimal Maintenance (No Pets, Occasional Rinsing) <500 gallons
Moderate Maintenance (Pet Owners, Monthly Rinsing) 500–1,500 gallons
High-End Estimate (Heavy Cleaning, Cooling, Biweekly Rinsing) 1,500–4,000 gallons (Uncommon)

For most homeowners, artificial turf’s total water use is effectively negligible—even with regular hosing down, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the 55,000+ gallons a regular grass lawn requires.

Regional Differences: Where Artificial Turf Saves the Most Water

The biggest water savings come in arid regions where lawns require near-constant irrigation. While exact water usage varies depending on factors like climate, maintenance habits, and pet ownership, these estimates provide a data-driven, realistic range based on common usage patterns. (Most homeowners use little to no water on artificial turf beyond occasional rinsing, while pet owners and those in extremely hot regions of the U.S. may use slightly more.)

Location Avg. Annual Water Use for Grass (per 1,000 sq. ft.) Estimated Water Use for Artificial Turf Water Savings (%)
Southern California 60,000+ gallons ~500–3,000 gallons 95–99%
Texas 45,000–55,000 gallons ~500–3,000 gallons 93–99%
Florida 35,000–45,000 gallons ~500–2,500 gallons 94–98%
Midwest 20,000–35,000 gallons ~500–2,000 gallons 90–98%

Note that in humid regions with regular rainfall, grass may naturally require less irrigation, but artificial turf still eliminates nearly all water use. So, while the percentage savings may be slightly lower than in arid climates, the overall reduction remains substantial.

Other Considerations

Artificial turf eliminates nearly all water use, but that’s only one piece of the equation. While the water savings are undeniable, there are other factors worth considering:

Soil Absorption vs. Artificial Turf Drainage: Where Does the Water Go?

Artificial turf doesn’t absorb water like natural soil, so proper drainage installation is critical. Without it, heavy rain can cause pooling or increased runoff, though many modern systems include permeable bases to reduce these issues.

In fact, a common misconception about artificial turf is that it contributes to water runoff issues, but again, modern installations are designed with permeable backing and drainage layers that allow water to flow through efficiently.

Now on the other hand, living grass lawns absorb water, but only up to a certain point—once saturated, excess water still runs off, often carrying fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants into storm drains.

A well-maintained natural lawn can absorb up to 1 inch of rainfall per hour before runoff begins. However, in areas with compacted soil or heavy clay, infiltration rates drop significantly, leading to surface runoff and water waste.

Many artificial turf systems now include high-drainage underlayers that allow for 30+ inches of water per hour to pass through, preventing pooling and runoff. By reducing runoff and eliminating the need for fertilizers, artificial turf helps cut down on water pollution from residential and commercial landscaping.

End-of-Life Disposal

A high-quality artificial lawn can last 10 to 20 years, but disposal remains a challenge. Even today, most old turf still ends up in landfills, and the process of reclaiming usable materials is expensive and not widely available.

Most synthetic grass still ends up in landfills, largely because recycling options are limited and costly.

However, companies like ReTURF are actively working to change that by giving used turf a second life—recovering, cleaning, and repurpose it for new applications. This means:

  • Homeowners and businesses can buy quality used artificial turf at a lower cost, reducing waste.
  • Schools, gyms, and sports facilities can install repurposed turf for playgrounds, batting cages, and training surfaces.
  • Landscapers and DIYers can use reclaimed turf for creative projects like dog runs, erosion control, and event flooring.

By diverting thousands of square feet of used synthetic grass from landfills, ReTURF helps extend the material’s usefulness while making artificial turf more accessible and environmentally responsible.

​ReTURF also provides Tempo Turf, a 100% recyclable artificial grass product made entirely from Olefin (polypropylene). This innovation addresses the environmental concerns associated with traditional synthetic turf disposal by offering a sustainable alternative that can be fully recycled at the end of its lifespan.

Evapotranspiration: The Hidden Water Loss in Natural Lawns

Natural grass doesn’t just use water through irrigation—it also loses significant amounts through evapotranspiration (ET), the process where water is absorbed by plants and then released as vapor into the air. This is a major factor in lawn water consumption, especially in hotter, drier climates.

In high-ET regions of the U.S. like Arizona, California, Nevada, West and Central Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma, and others, grass can lose up to 0.3 inches of water per day in peak summer months. Over a 1,000 sq. ft. lawn, that equates to over 150 gallons of water lost daily just to evaporation.

That’s in addition to direct irrigation needs, which can be even higher in drought-prone areas.

Why Artificial Turf Eliminates This Loss

Since synthetic grass doesn’t absorb or transpire water, it completely removes ET from the equation. Even when artificial turf is hosed down for cooling or cleaning, nearly all of that water remains at the surface and drains away, rather than being lost to the atmosphere.

Verdict: Massive Water Savings

For regions facing drought and water restrictions, artificial turf eliminates virtually all irrigation needs, often saving tens of thousands of gallons per year per home. Unlike living grass, which requires constant watering to stay green, synthetic turf’s water use is so minimal that it barely factors into the equation.

All in all, when it comes to conserving water, artificial turf is in a different league from natural grass. So if reducing water consumption is your goal, artificial turf is the clear winner.