Southern California

Water Agencies Ponder Continuing Rebate Plans As Drought Continues

Water agencies do more than manage water — they also manage money.

So the question in cities across Southern California is just how much do they need to pay homeowners to entice them to do their part in a drought?

Retired telephone worker Debra Woods, who lives in Fullerton, says there was a time her grass lawn made neighbors jealous.

"It was so green, there were no blemishes. I had a fertilizing company come out once a month. It was perfect, and I was embarrassed for having such a perfect lawn,” Woods says, laughing.

But that lawn is dead now, as part of her effort to help conserve water.

Eventually, she wants to replace it with drought-resistant landscaping, and wouldn't mind some help with the cost.

"I sure could use it. I am retired and I'm really squeezing by (trying) to do this," she says.

This Orange County native is the kind of customer the Metropolitan Water District had in mind when it offered $2 per square foot to anyone who would rip out their lawn.

"The public’s interest in turf removal has been phenomenal,” says district spokesman Bob Muir.

So popular, Muir says, that the $100 million allocated for the turf removal program is about to dry up, with homeowners having applied for over $330 million in rebates.

The spike came after Gov. Jerry Brown's call for a 25 percent reduction in urban water use.

"Not only in residential areas, but commercial areas as well," Muir says.

The water agency will consider boosting the turf removal fund with an additional $350 million at Tuesday's board meeting, but not everyone is in favor.

Four board members from the San Diego County Water Authority, a member of MWD, led by board member Keith Lewinger, wrote recently that "we've reached the tipping point and we don't need $2 per square foot incentives to get people to do this any longer. We can't buy our way out of the drought by removing turf. We just can't afford it."

One proposal MWD will consider Tuesday is to increase the funding for the turf removal program with new restrictions. Only residential lawns under 3,000 square feet will qualify, and the commercial rebate will drop from $2 to $1 a square foot, under that proposal.

Debra Woods can't afford it either, but says the program is so particular on what she can plant, that she may not qualify for the rebate.

Still, she doesn't regret losing her once-flawless emerald lawn.

"No, I really don't,” she says. “It wasn't a source of pride anymore."

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