Scottsdale is offering money to residents and businesses to remove grass, pools and spas.
Commercial properties, apartment complexes and homeowners associations can get the biggest rebates: up to $50,000 for removing grass on their properties and adjacent to streets. Residential customers can get up to $5,000 for grass removal.
In 2022, Scottsdale’s water policy manager Gretchen Baumgardner told KJZZ News:
“Maybe you have some portions of your backyard that your children play in or you have usage “with your dogs or you just find really functional for family parties, those are great functional uses. But in areas that are maybe the back portion of the backyard that no one ever goes to or even your front yard — no one walks on that turf, it’s more of an ornamental item – those are non-functional water uses.”
The program also includes rebates up to $1,500 for removing a pool or spa and rebates for water monitors and irrigation controllers purchased after May 5. All work must be pre-approved. Applications are available on Scottsdale’s website at scottsdaleaz.gov/water/rebates.
In 2021, the city asked residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their water use by at least 5%f because of drought, climate change and a Colorado River supply shortage.
