Commercial & Multi-family Customer Rebates

Save up to 70% of the water used for irrigation by replacing turfgrass with low-water use plants! Commercial and multifamily Tucson Water customers can now qualify for a rebate of up to $100,000 to remove ornamental (or non-functional) turfgrass and replace with desert-adapted trees and shrubs. 

Rebate and Additional Incentive Information

*This is a limited time opportunity. Funds will be issued on a first come first served basis. 

*Final rebate amount determined after site visit is complete.

Customer Eligibility

To qualify for the turf removal incentive, you must meet the following requirements.

• Applicants must be Tucson Water commercial, industrial, institutional, or multifamily customer with active water service at the time of application submittal.
• HOA applicants must have the following document signed by the President of the HOA. - HOA Letter of Consensus(PDF, 47KB)
• The official applicant must be the current property owner or authorized party on the water account.
• Customer is eligible to apply for the rebate and incentives on a per property basis if the property is actively served by a Tucson Water meter.

Turf Removal Requirements                           

• Proposed removal and conversions must be approved by appropriate jurisdiction's Planning and/or Development Services Department.
• Only grass that is alive and growing is eligible. Dead grass does not qualify.
• All qualifying rebate turf areas must be defined as ornamental turf as defined by City of Tucson UDC 7.6.4,Landscape Standards:
  • Grass areas with any single dimension of eight feet or less
  • Grass areas exceeding a 4-to-1, or 25%, slope
  • Grass areas that are not accessible by paved pathways and/or are restricted by physical barriers that prohibit accessibility
  • Grass areas installed closer than ten feet to a street and/or in front entryways to residential neighborhoods or subdivisions where other recreational amenities do not exist
  • Grass areas that are not utilized for active recreational purposes.
  • Tucson Water may not rebate the removal of turfgrass if it is covering roots of established trees with large canopies. Removing this grass even with additional irrigation, can weaken, damage, or even kill trees. This will be determined on a case by case basis.
  • Customer will need to submit revised landscape plan for review and approval to PDSD (or other jurisdiction if outside City of Tucson), Section 5-01.9.4 Landscape Removal.

Landscape Replacement Requirements 

 Planting requirements

• Compliance with jurisdictional regulations.
• At a minimum, all turf removal area must have landscape replacement of 50% tree canopy or vegetative groundcover at maturity
• Plant material in conversion area must be from Arizona Department of Water Resources, Tucson Active Management Area Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant list
• Tucson Water Recommended Plant List(PDF, 197KB) 

 Irrigation Requirements

• Must put in pressure regulator to convert from spray to drip irrigation.
• Drip and bubblers are allowed, no spray irrigation.
• Separate shut-off valve for irrigation line to allow for easier shutoff and onsite water management.
• Installing separate lines and watering zones for different plant types (e.g. shrubs and groundcovers, cacti and trees) is recommended to increase watering efficiency.
• Must follow plumbing codes for irrigation.

NOT PERMITTED

• No hardscape within transformed area, except ADA accessible permeable paths are allowed.
• Existing dead turfgrass and replacement artificial grass will not be rebated.
• No fountains, pools, oasis areas, or other water-intensive features are permitted in the conversion area.
• Areas with concrete, structures, black plastic sheeting, or other surfaces that air and water cannot move through will be disqualified.

Application Process

$100 Rebate per MaP Premium High-efficiency Toilet

Rebate Eligibility & Requirements

• Only MaP Premium toilets at 1.1 gallons per flush or less, are WaterSense certified, and have a high flush performance score qualify for the rebate. Click here(PDF, 497KB) to select a toilet that qualifies for the rebate.

   

• Rebate applies for fixtures purchased on or after July 1, 2022. Purchases made prior to this date are subject to previous rebate policy. Rebate application must be submitted no later than 1 year after the purchase of the product. 

• Applicants must submit a W-9 form  for rebates $600 or more, which are subject to tax, and will be issued a 1099-MISC  for miscellaneous income. The W-9 form requires submitting your social security number.

• Applicant must be a multi-family residential Tucson Water customer with an account in their name at the service address water fixture(s) is/are installed. Must have active Tucson Water service on the date the product is purchased.

• Property construction date should be prior to 2011 both within city limits or Pima County.

• Fixtures replaced as part of a general construction permit (such as for a structural change or alteration) do not qualify for the rebate.

• Replacement of toilets that use more than 1.1 gallons per flush.

*All commercial and multifamily customers must fill out a pre-screening form prior to applying for the rebate. Once you fill out the form, you will be notified by our office via email if you have been pre-approved to apply for the rebate program along with the information to apply. 

Access pre-screening form here

$100 rebate per MaP Premium High-efficiency toilet with a flush of 1.1 gallons per flush

$150 rebate per flushometer valve/bowl combination

Rebate Eligibility & Requirements

• $100 rebate for MaP Premium toilets at 1.1 gallons per flush or less, are WaterSense certified, and have a high flush performance score qualify for the rebate. Click here to select a toilet that qualifies for the rebate.

• $150 rebate for flushometer valve/bowl combination HETs with an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons or less as rated by MaP (Maximum Performance) testing qualify for the flushometer valve/bowl combination rebate.

• If you contacted the city and were authorized to receive a customized rebate based on plumbing concerns, you must install WaterSense EPA certified high-efficiency toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush or less. Must replace toilets that use 1.6 gpf or more.

• Rebate applies for fixtures purchased on or after July 1, 2022. Purchases made prior to this date are subject to previous rebate policy. Rebate application must be submitted no later than 1 year after the purchase of the product. 

• Applicants must submit a W-9 form  for rebates $600 or more, which are subject to tax, and will be issued a 1099-MISC  for miscellaneous income. The W-9 form requires submitting your social security number.

• Applicant must be a commercial Tucson Water customer with an account in their name at the service address water fixture(s) is/are installed. Must have active Tucson Water service on the date the product is purchased.

• Property construction date should be prior to 2011 both within city limits or Pima County.

• Fixtures replaced as part of a general construction permit (such as for a structural change or alteration) do not qualify for the rebate.

• Replacement of toilets that use more than 1.1 gallons per flush.

*All commercial and multifamily customers must fill out a pre-screening form prior to applying for the rebate. Once you fill out the form, you will be notified by our office via email if you have been pre-approved to apply for the rebate program along with the information to apply. 

Access pre-screening form here

$200 Rebate per WaterSense Certified High-efficiency or Water-free Urinal

Rebate Eligibility & Requirements

• Must replace older, inefficient urinals with WaterSense certified high-efficiency urinals qualify for the rebate. Click here for a list of qualifying products.

• Applicants must submit a W-9 form  for rebates $600 or more, which are subject to tax, and will be issued a 1099-MISC  for miscellaneous income. The W-9 form requires submitting your social security number.

• Applicant must be a commercial Tucson Water customer with an account in their name at the service address water fixture(s) is/are installed. Must have active Tucson Water service on the date the product is purchased.

• Fixtures replaced as part of a general construction permit (such as for a structural change or alteration) do not qualify for the rebate.

*All commercial and multifamily customers must fill out a pre-screening form prior to applying for the rebate. Once you fill out the form, you will be notified by our office via email if you have been pre-approved to apply for the rebate program along with the information to apply. 

Access pre-screening form here

If you are a commercial or multi-family customer interested in an on-site Zanjero water audit, call 520-791-3242 or email tw_customerservice@tucsonaz.gov. Learn more about the Zanjero Program by clicking here.

Commercial & multi-family customers can also request a free water consumption report to learn more about water consumption patterns at their properties. 

Request here

Smartscape - Training Program for Landscape Professionals