With the forecast for heavy rains from this year's El Nino, recently dubbed "too big to fail" by JPL scientists, this is the perfect time to install water-wise vegetation as expected rains will help new plants take root and thrive throughout the rest of the year.

Santa Monica water customers now have the opportunity to get even more in rebate dollars by swapping out lawn in the parkway for sustainable landscaping and irrigation. The parkway is the strip of land between your sidewalk and street. The parkway rebate is designed to protect our street trees while saving water.

The rebate also covers options for harvesting rain, which can yield a surprisingly large amount of water. For example, a 1,000 square foot roof can yield more than 600 gallons of water from one inch of rain. Instead of letting that rain run off your yard and out to the ocean, collect and use it.

"The community has really come together during this drought, and we're proud of what we've accomplished together," said Dean Kubani, Sustainability Manager with the City of Santa Monica. "The next step is to reap what nature sends our way in the form of rainwater, keeping it on site to protect the Bay, and leveraging it for use in your yard. Moving forward, everyone will be in the rain water capture business, better to start now."

The updated rebate provides many ways you can harvest rain water in your yard.  Get between $200 and $2000 for installing rain barrels or cisterns.  Rain barrels and cisterns turn El Nino rain into free irrigation water.  $1,000 in rebates are available for those who incorporate rain gardens or rock gardens into their landscaping.  Rain gardens and rock gardens are especially designed to promote percolation of the rain into the soil. 

Landscape Rebates include up to $4,500 for turf and sprinkler removal; up to $1,500 for replacing turf on parkways with climate appropriate plants; from $200 - $2,000 for installing rain barrels or cisterns as part of a rain harvesting system; $1,000 for installing rain gardens or rock gardens; and up to $40 per downspout for redirecting water from gutters. Rebates can total up to $8,000 or more per property.