7 Tips To Help HOAs Cope With Drought

When a drought hits, conserving water often becomes a community effort. HOAs must do their part to both keep up with residents’ demands for quality lawn care and landscaping while being responsible citizens in their communities who try to provide that quality service to their residents without neglecting their responsibility to use water responsibly.

It’s a tricky balancing act for a community association to fulfill both responsibilities. However, the following seven tips are some ideas on how to balance both your commitment to your residents and the environment when a drought occurs.

1. Install Water-Efficient Technology

From sprinklers to watering systems, investing in water-efficient technology now can help your community out next time that it is facing a drought situation. This is especially something to consider for communities in the Southwest or California were consistent droughts are all but the norm. This allows you to water your community gardens, lawns, and other plant life is often as the local law allows while still conserving water and not using more than is necessary to keep the local plant life alive.

2. Consider Plants That Need Less Water

Especially if your community is in a location where droughts are common such as New Mexico, Arizona, southern Nevada (i.e., Las Vegas), California, etc., consider getting some plants that require minimal watering. These plants provide greenery without requiring the water that many other plants require.

Some options for plants that require little water to sustain life include agave, bougainvillea, portulaca, lithops, blanket flowers, verbena, and cacti to name a few. Planting these kinds of flowers will allow there to be color and vegetation in your area without plants requiring as much watering as many others would require.

3. Consider Your Landscaping Materials

Some landscaping materials such as mulch or dirt will soak up more water while others like pebbles or rocks will allow more water to drip through the surface of and get to the roots of the plants that need the water most. Moreover, keeping rocks moist is not necessary, which makes these more “drought friendly” landscaping options than those that soak up much water like sand, dirt, or mulch.

Considering this can help your association provide the local landscape options that allow the plant to get more water than the surrounding soil while also still offering a pleasing option to the eye as many stones and rock landscapes also look elegant at the same time as allowing the plant to have all the water deposited into the area.

4. Obey Local Water Use Laws

For those droughts that get more serious, you may only be allowed to water lawns, flowers, gardens, etc. for a certain amount of time per week/month/etc,. For example, if you are experiencing a severe drought in Phoenix, Arizona, you may be allowed two to 20-minute watering sessions for lawns, gardens, and landscaping each week.

When that drought gets more severe, that may be cut to 2 15-minute watering sessions per week. Car washing may also be banned if water shortages get severe enough. Inform residents of these rules and ensure that everyone is aware and follows them accordingly; otherwise, that can come back as a huge fine ($10,000+) on either the resident or association that breaks the rules and uses too much water during a time when it is being experienced in a shortage.

5. Consider Replacing Grass With Turf

For longer-term droughts like the ones being experienced in California, HOAs that replace grass with turfs that need less water can be doing the environment a massive favor. Turf provides residents the “green” color and looks that they want without requiring much extra water to do it. This is being kind to the environment while still providing the community with a solution to their grass needs that are aesthetically pleasing as well.

6. Understand The Commonality Of Water Shortages

40 of every 50 HOA managers could experience a water shortage within their managed communities in the next ten years. This means that at some point, virtually 80% of communities will experience a water shortage of some kind! Contingency plans are vital to water shortages, as it is apparent now as to how many communities will have to face these shortages in the future.

7. Communicate New Requirements/Regulations To Residents

Moreover, community associations can communicate the latest water restrictions to residents as to if they are allowed to wash their cars, how many loads of laundry they should be washing (i.e., the size of each load), how often they can water their lawns, how much water they should be providing vegetation, etc. as well as any new regulations that come into play that affect your local area where your HOA is located. Communicating these laws and regulations to residents can help residents keep from using water in ways that may get them or your HOA fined.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can HOAs reduce water usage during a drought?

HOAs can reduce water usage by installing water-efficient irrigation systems, using drought-tolerant plants, replacing grass with turf, and adjusting watering schedules to comply with local restrictions.

Can an HOA enforce water restrictions on homeowners?

Yes. If local or state regulations require water conservation, HOAs can enforce those rules within the community. Associations may also adopt additional conservation policies consistent with governing documents and local laws.

Are HOAs responsible for complying with local drought regulations?

Absolutely. HOAs must follow municipal and state water use restrictions. Failure to comply can result in significant fines for the association or homeowners.

What are drought-tolerant landscaping options for communities?

Popular drought-resistant options include agave, cacti, bougainvillea, verbena, blanket flowers, and other xeriscaping plants that require minimal irrigation.

Is replacing grass with turf a good long-term solution?

In areas prone to frequent drought, replacing traditional grass with artificial turf or low-water groundcover can significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining curb appeal.

How should HOAs communicate water restrictions to residents?

HOAs should provide clear, timely updates through email, newsletters, websites, and community signage. Transparent communication helps prevent violations and costly penalties.

Prepare Your Community for Drought Conditions with RealManage

Water shortages are becoming increasingly common, and proactive planning is essential. RealManage helps community associations implement sustainable landscaping strategies, manage vendor relationships, ensure regulatory compliance, and communicate effectively with residents during drought conditions.

If your HOA wants to protect property values while promoting responsible water use, contact RealManage today to learn how our professional management services can support your community.