CVWD and Rancho Mirage Provide a Larger Financial Incentive for Turf Conversions by Coachella Valley Water District Jul 11, 2022 Member Submitted News Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and City of Rancho Mirage (City) are now offering a combined rebate of $6 per square-foot to CVWD customers within the City of Rancho Mirage who convert their turf to water-efficient landscaping. In response to the current drought and the State’s ban on watering decorative grass, Rancho Mirage City Council approved a $500,000 Turf Conversion program to support the reduction of water use on landscaping. Customers can save about 55 gallons per square-foot per year by converting. For projects completed after July 1, the program provides a $3 rebate from the City that will be combined with CVWD’s $3 incentive for projects up to 10,000 square-feet for residential customers and 25,000 square-feet for HOAs and commercial customers. CVWD will handle the entire application process and will pay the rebates in full after approved projects are completed. Projects must be pre-approved before any grass is removed. The partnership aims to incentivize residents and businesses to participate by cost-sharing the expenses. CVWD’s research shows the cost per square foot for a turf conversion to water-efficient landscaping ranges between $4 and $8 depending on the project size, design and plant palette. In addition to the $6 rebate, HOAs or commercial projects that are required by the City to have plans signed by a landscape architect may be eligible for an additional rebate from the City to reimburse participants for the cost of the service, up to $6,000. For more information on program requirements or to apply, visit cvwd.org/rebates or call CVWD at 760-398-2651. CVWD continues to work with customers and other partners to reduce water use and save water for future generations. Coachella Valley Water District is a public agency governed by a five-member board of directors. The district provides domestic and irrigation water, agricultural drainage, wastewater treatment and reclamation services, regional stormwater protection, groundwater management and water conservation. It serves approximately 113,000 residential and business customers across 1,000 square miles located primarily in Riverside County, but also in portions of Imperial and San Diego counties.
