Water in 2026: Why This Year Matters More Than Ever—and What You Can Do About It

Timothy Webb
May 4
3 min read

If you’ve felt like this year has been unusually dry—you’re absolutely right. Across Utah, we’re facing one of the most challenging water years in recent memory.

The Reality: A Historic Water Shortage

The numbers tell the story:

Utah has seen ~59% less precipitation than normal this season
The state’s snowpack—our primary water source—was the lowest on record
In Utah, about 95% of our water supply comes from snowpack runoff
Reservoirs are sitting around 70% full—down significantly from last year’s ~80%+
100% of the state is in drought, with nearly 60% in extreme conditions

Even more concerning: runoff has already peaked weeks early this year, meaning we’re heading into summer with less water than we typically rely on.

This isn’t just a “dry year”—it’s a shift. And landscapes are one of the biggest opportunities we have to respond.

Why Landscapes Matter

Outdoor irrigation accounts for a massive portion of residential water use—often 50–70% of total consumption in Utah.

That means the biggest impact most homeowners and HOAs can make isn’t inside the home—it’s outside.

The good news: saving water doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty. In fact, the best landscapes today are designed to use less water and look better doing it.

Practical Ways to Save Water in Your Landscape

Here’s where homeowners and communities can make immediate, meaningful changes:

1. Convert Lawn Areas That Don’t Need to Be Lawn

Park strips, side yards, and unused turf are some of the biggest water drains.

Replace with drought-tolerant plantings
Install decorative rock or mulch systems
Utilize Utah Water Savers rebates (often up to $3/sq ft)

2. Switch Garden Beds to Drip Irrigation

Traditional spray systems waste water through overspray and evaporation.

Drip delivers water directly to plant roots
Reduces water use by 30–50%+
Improves plant health and longevity

3. Upgrade and Optimize Irrigation Systems

Smart controllers adjust for weather automatically
Fix leaks, pressure issues, and inefficient heads
Proper zoning ensures water is applied where it’s actually needed

4. Use Better Soil + Mulch Practices

Compost improves water retention
Mulch reduces evaporation and regulates soil temperature
Healthy soil = less watering required

5. Choose the Right Plants

Native and drought-tolerant species thrive with less water
Structured plant palettes can create high-end, low-maintenance landscapes

What We’re Seeing on the Ground

At Imagine Landscape, this isn’t theoretical—we’re seeing it every day.

We’ve completed hundreds of water-saving projects across the Wasatch Front, including:

Full turf conversions into modern, low-water landscapes
Park strip (“hell strip”) transformations
Garden bed retrofits from spray to drip
HOA-wide irrigation optimization programs
High-end residential yards designed to reduce long-term water demand

What’s interesting is that clients aren’t just doing this to “save water”—they’re doing it because:

It reduces maintenance
It lowers long-term cost
It creates a cleaner, more intentional aesthetic
And increasingly—it’s the responsible thing to do

The Bigger Picture

This year is a wake-up call.

With record-low snowpack, early runoff, and persistent drought conditions, we’re entering a new reality where water efficiency isn’t optional—it’s part of good landscape design.

The landscapes that perform best in Utah going forward will be: