Gardeners need to be ready to pay more for their lawns, vegetables and flowers this summer in Durango.

The water-rate increases approved last year by the Durango City Council included a summer price differential aimed at encouraging conservation.

In the summer, the average household uses 12,000 gallons of water in a month, while in winter the monthly average use is only 4,000 gallons.

For 12,000 gallons and the accompanying green yard, residents can expect to pay about $58 a month or about 50 percent more than they did last year, according to city estimates.

The summer price-differential is in effect May through August, and customers can expect to notice a difference on their June bill, said Mary Beth Miles, assistant to the city manager.

Utilities Director Steve Salka hopes the rates will help change the level of water consumption in town.

A few years ago, the city posted a banner asking people to use 10 percent less water, and it backfired, Salka recalled. Instead of conserving, everyone used more water, he said.

By raising the cost, he hopes to see a paradigm shift toward conservation. The rate increases were also needed to pay for major infrastructure upgrades and repairs city-wide.

Josh Ulrich, an employee at Native Roots Garden Center, has noticed a growing awareness about conservation.

“People are feeling the pressure with increased water rates ... they are forced to think of other options,” he said.

Planting native grasses and xeriscaping are two of the common alternatives to a lawn.

“Already this spring, we’ve had several customers who dug up their Kentucky bluegrass lawn and they are switching over to xeriscape,” said Maggie March, assistant nursery manager at Durango Nursery and Supply.

Xeriscaping requires less water, less maintenance and can feature a broad variety of plants, she said.

There was a bit of good news for county residents, who will see city water fees on their summer water bills. Those customers can expect to see their rates come down on the bill they will receive in July. These customers had been paying double what their city neighbors have been charged. In July, they also will receive a refund for the extra they have been paying since January.

The City Council plans to re-evaluate if it is fair to charge county residents a differential for city water.

mshinn@durangoherald.com