Eastern increases rebate for turf removal

Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has increased funding available for its turf removal program to $4 per square foot, the highest total it has offered in assisting customers with landscape transformations.

The $4 per square foot is an increase of $1 per square foot and is in partnership with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan). EMWD’s share of the program is now $2 and Metropolitan’s share remains at $2 for the total of $4.

Customers are eligible for the funding if they remove grass and replace it with climate appropriate landscaping and a qualifying ground cover such as rock, mulch, or decomposed granite.

The increased funding opportunity applies to residential; commercial, institutional and industrial (CII); and public agency customers.

CII customers are also eligible to receive rebates for converting from spray to drip irrigation. That amount increased to $1 per square foot.

EMWD customers have removed nearly 10 million square feet of turf and converted nearly 1.5 million square feet of landscape to drip irrigation.

“We hope that our customers will continue their longstanding commitment to water use efficiency and use this increased funding opportunity to remove their thirsty grass in favor of climate-appropriate landscaping,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “By transforming our landscapes, we can help ensure long-term sustainability for our water supplies and have beautiful, colorful landscapes that are low maintenance.”

EMWD offers a variety of customer-focused resources through its Landscapes for Living program, including sample landscape designs, rebates on weather-based irrigation controllers, and more.

Customers are encouraged to apply for funding and receive approval prior to beginning work at their property. A full listing of program terms, as well as the online application, may be found at www.socalwatersmart.com.