Flaunting Lawn and Order With Astroturf

"'We want people to change their behavior and use more water-efficient products for landscaping,' water district spokeswoman Darcy Burke said of the rebates.

Because of the ban, Orban was denied her $300 rebate.

'I couldn't believe it,' she said of Garden Grove's mandate. 'Our governor says we need to save water.'

Garden Grove is one of five cities in Orange County -- the others are Stanton, La Palma, Orange and Santa Ana -- that for years have barred residents from putting in fake lawns. Although most of the resistance has to do with the look of fake grass -- particularly the older imitations -- there have also been concerns over the level of lead found in some artificial grass. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report focusing on athletic fields concluded, however, that young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in newer artificial turf fields.

Officials with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a consortium of 26 cities and water districts in the region, said they didn't know of any cities outside Orange County that ban fake lawns."