Even worse, watering lawns. Not only in many places there is water restriction during the summer season and people watering their lawn do-it illegally, but the only consequences is that you have to mow-it more often. If you want to have green-grass, go to Britain or Netherlands where it's always raining and stop living around the Mediterranean
Can confirm. Endless rain this summer in the UK. No grass watering required (not that it is ever required...). Didn't stop my neighbour watering on the few sunny weeks we've had...
A lot of communities are seeing people install fake grass. Also, rock gardens or gravel lawns are an option. If you want green and natural, clover is a good ground cover that doesn't grow too tall.
Rock is what I was trying to avoid for easy walking on. I really like the idea of clover though. Our yard is already about a third clover, so makes sense to do it fully.