Mesa providing residents with cash for ditching grass

PHOENIX — Ditch the grass and get some cash.

“It’s expensive and we have to take care of a precious resource,” said Becky Zusy, Conservation Specialist with the City of Mesa.

When you remove 500 square feet or more of established grass and replace it with a water-thrifty landscape, the City of Mesa will provide a $500 rebate.

Mesa’s Grass-to-Xeriscape Landscape Rebate program will provide a $500 rebate if you remove 500-square-feet or more of established grass.

Since the program started in 2007, 250 qualified homeowners have signed up.

“Preliminary numbers say about a thirteen percent overall reduction annually in their total water bill,” said Zusy.

Mesa is one of several Valley cities to provide a similar rebate program.