Editorial: Grass is not a diamond; fake has its own value

Friday, June 20, 2003 | 5:58 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: June 22, 2003

For the diehard grass lover, crushed rock and bark are just unacceptable substitutes. And so his lawn remains, along with the sprinkler system that raises his water bill and lowers the lake level. But as Sun reporter Launce Rake pointed out in a story Friday, today's artificial substitute for sod and seed is not your father's heel-catching Astroturf.

Barely distinguishable from the real thing, this new generation of synthetic, permeable grass is made to be installed alongside live plants and trees. Local dealers say its grasslike quality works for athletic fields and homes alike, and that with normal use it can last 15 to 25 years. While it costs around $6 a square foot, compared with about $1 a square foot for real grass, it will dramatically cut monthly water bills.

We agree with the Southern Nevada Water Authority's decision to approve certain grades of manufactured turf for its program that partially reimburses homeowners for replacing their grass. If enough homeowners convert, it will enable the whole Las Vegas Valley to better contend with the ongoing drought.