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Utah City Seeks To Conserve Water By Changing Grass Rule

A Utah city is proposing to reduce a home grass requirement to help residents deal with higher water bills. Orem will consider lowering the mandated amount of grass in front yards from 70% to 50%.

The planning division manager in the city 45 miles (about 72 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City says there are several neighborhoods where residents live on tight budgets and could benefit from water conservation measures.

The reduction is an attempt to maintain aesthetics while using xeriscaping, a type of landscaping requiring little or no irrigation.

The city is also providing residents with a list of native drought-tolerant species of trees, shrubs, flowering perennials and grasses.

The Orem City Council is scheduled to discuss the amendment May 14.