In an effort to implement the goals of Governor Brown’s Executive Order (Order) on April 1, 2015 mandating a reduction in water usage across the state of California, two new rebate programs were announced in August by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). These initiatives allow residents to both replace old and inefficient toilets and remove turf to conserve water in the midst of the massive drought plaguing California.

Under the “turf and toilet” rebate program, approved by voters and funded pursuant to Proposition 1, the DWR will compensate consumers with a $100 rebate to exchange one old toilet per household and up to $2 per square foot for lawn replacement, or up to $2000 per household. The DWR will provide rebates for the purchase of high efficiency toilets that use 1.28 gallons of water or less per flush (as opposed to 1.6 gallons of water in current models). It also intends to replace turf that requires large amounts of water with landscape options that require little water for California’s single family residences. The plan is projected to disburse approximately $30 million in total rebates to participants and replace more than 10 million square feet of lawn and 60,000 toilets.

The turf rebate program has been instituted pursuant to a specific directive in the Order that mandates the implementation of programs to reduce water use in urban sectors. According to the directive, a total 50 million square feet of turf will be replaced with landscapes that are suitable for drought-prone environments through both local agency initiatives and a statewide rebate program. Outdoor water use for landscaping purposes is the largest use of water in the average home in California. Reducing the amount of grass in resident’s landscapes is expected to have a significant effect on the overall consumption of water in the state.

Contact Shane Coons at 949-333-0900 or visit his website at www.ShaneCoonsLaw.com.