Water Quality Impacts from Artificial Turf and Xeriscaping
Adapted from "Developing Educational Tools for Sustainable Stormwater Management." Find the full report here.
As water scarcity increases throughout the Western United States due to climate change and population growth, states are increasingly concerned about having enough water to meet projected demand (Utah Division of Water Resources, 2021). Utah’s growth rates are expected to continue to exceed national rates over the next 50 years with population projected to nearly double by 2065 (Utah Division of Water Resources, 2021). More than 90 percent of Utah’s residents reside in an urban setting or an area transitioning to urban living (Utah Division of Water Resources, 2021). Steps are being taken to stretch Utah’s water supply, including higher density housing projects and landscape ordinances that require native plants and water-wise landscaping (Utah Division of Water Resources, 2021). In Utah, approximately 60 percent of residential water use is for irrigating landscapes (Utah Division of Water Resources, 2022). The prevalence of water-wise landscaping has been on the rise as homeowners are becoming more aware of how their watering practices impact water consumption in their communities (Endter-Wada et al., 2008; McCammon et al., 2009).
Two popular water-conserving landscape options are artificial turf and xeriscaping. Artificial turf is the use of synthetic, human-made fibers that look like real grass in place of traditional landscaping plants. Xeriscaping is the practice of designing a landscape to limit the need for irrigation by replacing traditional water-consuming turf grass with drought-tolerant grass, native plants, and hardscaping (rocks, gravel, brick, pavers, etc.). Xeriscaping is sometimes also known as water-wise landscaping or localscaping. There are plenty of resources on how to switch to artificial turf or xeriscaping, including best management practices for transitioning landscapes and planting, maintenance, and design guides; however, best management practices and guides for choosing a landscape with the lowest impact to water quality could not be found. This lack of resources indicates that the water quality of runoff from residential landscapes is often overlooked when considering water-conserving landscape solutions. While conserving water is highly important with continuing drought, climate change, and population growth, homeowners should also be aware that water leaving their properties carries pollutants to Utah’s waterways. The choice of plants and turf, hardscaping materials, soil, and chemical treatments impacts the water quality of landscape runoff. When planning a water-wise landscape, homeowners need to consider how to conserve water as well as how to minimize impacts to water quality.
This fact sheet presents a literature review and the current understanding of water quality impacts from two water-wise landscaping options (artificial turf and xeriscaping), including:
- Comparisons of the advantages and disadvantages of artificial turf and xeriscaping.
- Characterization of pollutants from both options.
- Microplastic pollutants from artificial turf.
- Findings from a comparison study of different water-conserving landscaping options, including differences in pollutants found in stormwater runoff from artificial turf and xeriscaping.
Click the link below to read more and download the fact sheet.
Download Fact Sheet
References
Bertling, J., Dresen, B., Bertling, R., Aryan, V., and Weber, T. 2021. Artificial turf pitches – System analysis for Switzerland and Germany taking into account micro-plastic and greenhouse gas emissions, recycling, locations and standards, costs, and player opinions. Oberhausen, Fraunhofer UMSICHT. https://doi.org/10.24406/umsicht-n-640929
Bocca, B., Forte, G. Petrucci, F., Costantini, S. and Izzo, P. 2008. Metals contained and leached from rubber granulates used in synthetic turf areas. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 2183-2190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.12.026
Chang, B., Wherley, B., Aitkenhead-Peterson, J.A., and McInnes, K.J. 2021. Effects of urban residential landscape composition on surface runoff generation. Science of the Total Environment, 783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146977
Chang, B., Wherley, B., Aitkenhead-Peterson, J. et al. 2022. Short-term impacts of urban landscape conversion on surface runoff quality. Urban Ecosystem, 25, 1561–1576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01247-2
Cheng, H., Hu, Y., and Reinhard, M. 2014. Environmental and Health Impacts of Artificial Turf: A Review. Environmental Science & Technology, 48, 2114-2129. dx.doi.org/10.1021/es4044193
Chow, W.T.L. and Brazel, A.J. 2011. Assessing xeriscaping as a sustainable heat island mitigation approach for a desert city. Building and Environment, 47, 170-181. https://doi-org.dist.lib.usu.edu/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.07.027
Endter-Wada, J., Kurtzman, J. Keenan, S. P., Kjelgren, R. K., and Neale, C.M.U. 2008. Situational Waste in Landscape Watering: Residential and Business Water Use in an Urban Utah Community. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. https://doi-org.dist.lib.usu.edu/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2008.00190.x
Heavenrich, H. and Hall, S. J. 2016. Elevated soil nitrogen pools after conversion of turfgrass to water-efficient residential landscapes. Environmental Research Letters, 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/8/084007
Houskeeper, Lauren, "Developing Educational Tools for Sustainable Stormwater Management" (2024). All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present. 37. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports2023/37
Korbol, O. (2018). Microplastics in freshwater sediments: An investigation of stream sediments downstream of artificial football turfs. [Master’s thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences].
Kruger, O., Kalbe, U., Berger, W., Nordhaub, K., Christoph, G., and Walzel, H.P. 2012. Comparison of Batch and Column Tests for the Elution of Artificial Turf System Components. Environmental Science & Technology, 46, 13085-13092. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es301227y
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Massey, R., Pollard, L., Tian, Z., and Evans, S. (2022, January 27). Environmental Health Impacts of Synthetic Turf and Safer Alternatives [Webinar]. CHE Partnership. https://www.healthandenvironment.org/webinars/96595
McCammon, T. A., Marquart-Pyatt, S. T., and Kopp, K. L. 2009. Water-Conserving Landscapes: An Evaluation of Homeowner Preference. Journal of Extension, 47(2). https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cwel_pubs/60
Regnell, F. (2019, October 24). Dispersal of microplastic from a modern artificial turf pitch with preventive measures - Case study. Ecoloop. https://www.genan.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/MP-dispersal-from-Bergavik-IP-Kalmar-Report.pdf
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Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2016, September). Sports Turf Alternatives Assessment: Preliminary Results Cost Analysis. UMass Lowell. https://www.turi.org/content/download/10395/173557/file/Cost%20Artificial%20Turf.%20September%202016.pdf
Utah Division of Water Resources. (2021, January). Chapter 2 Population & Municipal Water Use. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://water.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2021-Water-Resources-Plan-Chapter-2.pdf
Utah Division of Water Resources. (n.d.). Weekly Lawn Watering Guide. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://conservewater.utah.gov/weekly-lawn-watering-guide/
Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Liu, J., Jiang, Y., Tian, Y. and Zhang, Z. 2021. Distribution and Health Risk Assessment of Some Trace Elements in Runoff from Different Types of Athletic Fields. Journal of Chemistry, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5587057
Authors
Lauren Houskeeper, Science Communicator, Environmental Educator