Survey methodology

The Healthy Green Spaces Coalition commissioned this survey of U.S. homeowners with in-ground irrigation systems. PureLinq designed the survey, conducted the analysis, and managed fielding.

The questionnaire used the Fogg Behavior Model, focusing on practical barriers to outdoor water conservation: time, cost, physical effort, complexity, and lack of routine or reminders.

Respondents assessed these barriers across six behaviors:

• Routine irrigation maintenance
• Irrigation-system upgrades
• Active irrigation scheduling
• Partial landscape conversion
• Full grass removal or replacement
• Water-efficient landscape redesign

For each behavior, respondents reported their current stage of action, ranked the five barriers from greatest to smallest, and indicated whether working with a certified irrigation or water-savings landscape specialist would make them more likely to act. 

The survey was conducted from July 6–15, 2026. The final sample included 1,286 complete responses: 644 HOA homeowners and 642 non-HOA homeowners. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 98, with a mean age of 50.9 and a median age of 48. ZIP codes were validated for geographic analysis. Of 1,286 ZIP codes, 1,273 matched current USPS records across 47 states; 13 unmatched ZIP codes were excluded only from geographic exhibits.

Analysis

Barrier results are reported as:

• First-place share: Percentage ranking a barrier as the largest obstacle.
• Top-two share: Percentage ranking a barrier first or second.
• Mean rank: Average rank from 1 to 5, where lower values indicate greater perceived difficulty.

“Open to additional action” includes respondents who are already doing some of an activity and want to do more, plus those willing to begin. “Specialist demand” includes respondents who said a specialist would make them much or somewhat more likely to act.

Approximate 95% margins of error are ±2.7 percentage points for the full sample and ±3.9 points for HOA and non-HOA groups. Results based on fewer than 120 respondents carry a small-base notice.

Important limitations

Forced rankings show relative priority, not how many homeowners experience a particular barrier. For example, a 25% first-place cost share means one-quarter ranked cost above the other barriers; it does not mean one-quarter face a cost problem.

Results reflect self-reported perceptions and intentions, not verified behavior, water use, project costs, or system conditions. The sample was not weighted to represent U.S. homeowners or state populations.

Reproducibility

All figures were calculated from the raw response export using Python, including pandas, scipy, and statsmodels. AI tools assisted with analysis, chart production, and drafting, but the research team verified every figure and retained responsibility for survey design, sampling, interpretation, and reporting.