DWA Offers $1 Million For Turf Buy Back

Palm Springs-area property owners looking to reduce landscape water use can submit grant applications, starting Sept. 1, for the Desert Water Agency’s $1 million turf buyback program.

Under the program, homeowners, homeowners’ associations, commercial property owners and public properties can apply for grants to offset -- up to $2 per square foot -- the cost of removing grass that is replaced with desert landscape.

Grant applications will be accepted through Oct. 1.

“The success of our (2014) turf buyback program surpassed our expectations -- participating customers cut their overall water use by more than 40 percent,” DWA General Manager Dave Luker said.

“With turf removal projects, the water savings are locked in for the long haul -- in 10 years from now, today’s completed projects will have collectively saved more than one billion gallons -- and the savings will only increase as more grass is replaced this year,” he said.

Residential homeowners can receive up to $3,000 per project, though only front yards are eligible. Commercial, public or homeowners’ associations can receive up to $10,000 per project and can request grants for multiple projects.

Last year’s program helped participants replace 514,440 square feet of turf.

--City News Service, photo via Pixabay