Solving The World’s Water Conservation Problems With Dr. Kelly Kopp

Water is often our biggest household use, and yet around 60% of that goes to waste and is never put to good use. Dr. Kelly Kopp, a nationally recognized expert in urban water conservation, joins Corinna Bellizzi to discuss the key findings from her recent irrigation waste report and what must be done to solve our seemingly endless water waste. She explores the essential role of plants in creating drought-resilient communities, the use of smart technology to cut down water use, and the importance of doing routine irrigation evaluation. This conversation is indeed an eye-opener on how to save water, one of the most essential yet highly neglected resources of this planet. COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/solving-the-worlds-water-conservation-problems-with-dr-kelly-kopp/ About Guest: Dr. Kelly Kopp is a Professor of Plants, Soils & Climate and Director of the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping at Utah State University. A nationally recognized expert in urban water conservation, turfgrass science, and homeowner irrigation behavior, Dr. Kopp has led the Water Check Program and Utah Growing Water Smart initiatives, which have helped thousands of Utah residents reduce outdoor water use. She is a frequent media voice on sustainable landscaping and drought resilience across the Intermountain West. Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-kopp-2b57108/ Guest Website: https://greenspacescoalition.org/ Additional Resources Mentioned: From Air To Aqua: Decentralized Water Solutions For A Thirsty Planet With Brian Sheng: https://caremorebebetter.com/from-air-to-aqua-decentralized-water-solutions-for-a-thirsty-planet-with-brian-sheng Show Notes: Raw audio 02:34 - Dr. Kopp’s Key Findings About Irrigation Waste 09:49 - Making The Most Out Of Our Landscapes 14:49 - The Amazing Technology Of Smart Irrigation Controllers 17:59 - The Key Role Of Plants In Landscape Design 25:55 - Community Outreach In One Of The Fastest-Growing States 34:06 - Dr. Kopp’s Programs For Thousands Of Households In Utah 42:30 - Achieving Regeneration Through Water Stewardship 47:36 - Role Of Homeowners In Building More Drought-Resilient Communities 53:16 - Importance Of Raising Awareness On Water Conservation 56:35 - Episode Wrap-up And Closing Words BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you! NEW CAUSE PARTNER FOR 2025-2026 SELECTED! If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/ Follow us on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.