West Basin MWD hikes turf replacement rebates to $5/sq ft ahead of 2027 potable water ban

West Basin MWD hikes turf replacement rebates to $5/sq ft ahead of 2027 potable water banThe Southern California utility is boosting financial incentives for grass removal across all customer classes to prepare its service area for impending state regulations on non-functional turf.

Rebates will increase to $5 per square foot for residential, commercial, and public agency properties.

The funding boost is designed to prepare the community for a statewide ban on irrigating non-functional turf with potable water, starting January 1, 2027.

The district is also auditing 17 legacy 'Ocean Friendly Gardens' to assess the long-term maintenance success of past drought-tolerant landscaping investments.

West Basin Municipal Water District (WBMWD) in Southern California is significantly increasing its grass replacement rebates to prepare customers for an upcoming statewide ban on irrigating non-functional turf (NFT) with potable water. During a June 18 committee meeting, a public information specialist announced that the utility's recently approved budget will allow it to offer $5 per square foot for grass removal. The increased incentive will apply across the board to public agencies, businesses, and residential properties. The funding boost is a direct response to California's impending NFT regulation, which will prohibit the use of potable water for non-functional turf starting January 1, 2027. District staff noted they are actively meeting with the 17 cities in their service area to discuss the NFT ban and promote the available rebate resources. "I feel like there's going to be a lot of people that are not going to be happy when they hear it and understand it," noted Committee Chair Scott Houston, emphasizing the need to proactively communicate the upcoming state mandates. He requested a dedicated report for the next meeting to strategize early public outreach. Alongside the new rebate push, the district is evaluating the long-term viability of its past conservation investments. Staff recently completed an audit of 17 "Ocean Friendly Gardens" constructed between 2009 and 2017 to demonstrate drought-tolerant landscaping. The audit found mixed results regarding the long-term maintenance of the utility-funded sites, which are the responsibility of local property owners. While nine sites remain in "good" condition, five were rated as "fair," two need significant improvement, and one landscape at a local high school was entirely removed. District staff plan to contact partner agencies to discuss potential signage replacements and maintenance improvements for the deteriorating sites.