In an effort to conserve water, many California homeowners are replacing their lawns with artificial turf. Despite worries about its high lead content, more and more consumers are willing to try synthetic grass. Although it remains a small part of the overall market for U.S. lawns, the industry says it has grown by an estimated 20 percent annually for the past five years.
Commonly used fibers are polyethylene and polypropylene, along with formulations of nylon. The most common infill material used with the turf is granulated tire rubber, but alternatives include sand made of granulated quartz.
Local water districts have come to view artificial grass as a tool in the drive to cut water use. A single square foot of grass can absorb about 46 gallons of irrigation water each year.
The state, which is in its third year of drought, declared a water emergency in February. Water agencies in San Diego County, which frequently offer small rebates for consumers who replace grass with artificial turf, are stepping up conservation efforts.
It's important to remember that there are other ways to conserve water, such as the use of dought-tolerant landscaping. Artificial turf is more expensive to install (typically $9 to $12 per square foot), and generates more heat than the real thing, something to be considered in Southern California.
Part of the reason the industry is growing rapidly is that it's easy to get into the business. Currently, there are about 80 synthetic grass installers in Southern California. Many customers use water agency credits, which vary from 30 cents to a dollar per square foot. Recently, many agencies have run out of cash for incentive programs, but they are expected to resume.
While the region's ongoing water shortage underscores the need for consumers to find less thirsty substitutes for sod, a vigorous debate is taking place over the lead content of man-made lawns. Critics say there could be an increased risk to public health.
Separate lawsuits filed last fall by the state Attorney General's Office and the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland would require turf manufacturers to inform consumers about high lead content.
The suits allege that unacceptably high levels of lead have been found in synthetic turf, including indoor and outdoor grass purchased from retail stores, dealers and online marketers. Settlement negotiations are under way, but no trial dates have been set. Plaintiffs are urging the companies to reformulate their products to eliminate any risks from lead.
Although the turf industry is quickly moving toward materials and pigment with much lower lead content, an estimated 30 percent to 40 percent of artificial lawns sold before 2008 may contain more lead than the Environmental Protection Agency finds acceptable in soil. The state Attorney General's Office says that exposure to even small amounts of lead has been shown to permanently reduce mental capacity.
Although it's unclear just how large a market share artificial turf has claimed in recent years, there's agreement that the industry is growing fast where water is a precious commodity.
“They have become a big competitor,” said Danielle Marman, director of marketing for West Coast Turf, one the state's largest suppliers of natural lawns. “They claim that they are green but they are not green. They cause global warming. All people think of is, 'I don't have to mow it or water it.' Well, if you want to clean it off you have to put water onto it. If you have to replace that lawn, where do you dispose of it? It goes in a landfill.”
In the end, the convenience and durability of artificial lawns will overcome environmental concerns, says Annie Costa, executive director of the Association of Synthetic Grass Installers trade group. About 10 U.S. carpet mills now are producing artificial grass. An additional eight to 10 are operating in Europe and Asia. Together they create products for about 100 brands sold in the U.S.
