Quote:
I think if I lived anywhere that required irrigation to keep a lawn growing then I just wouldn't have a lawn. It seems hugely wasteful to use all that water just to keep a lawn growing that would otherwise die.

Unless one is living around Zabriskie Point or in Saudi Empty Quarter, there should be enough native species to populate a nice garden without requiring much care. For example, to me a lush, bright green lawn of ryegrass and fescue looks out of place in, say, a Dalmatian garden; thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, heather, wormwood, thistle and others* look much better, especially with an artfully positioned rock or two.

BTW, does anyone separate domestic waste water, so that toilet and washing machine drainage goes to sewers, and that from showers and kitchen sink irrigate garden?

*) for which my two-way Rosseta Stone efforts via Latin names failed