Xeriscape Incentive Program for Residential Customers
Residential customers (homes and rental properties) can receive $0.75/square foot up to 1,000 square feet, or up to $750, per approved project, per address. Rebates are first come, first served while funds are available.
Xeriscape and Irrigation Events and Classes
Learn about sustainable and water-wise gardening through our free classes, garden tours, plant swaps, volunteer opportunities and more! Explore topics like landscape design, pollinator gardening and irrigation. Contact us for information about upcoming events and classes.
Slow the Flow Sprinkler Evaluations
Save water and money by getting the most from your sprinkler system.
Sign up to get a FREE sprinkler evaluation for your home or rental property through Resource Central.
These evaluations will give you a comprehensive view of your sprinkler system’s performance and offer actionable steps to improve its efficiency and reduce water waste. Residential Customers Receive:
- A customized watering schedule
- Irrigation best practices
- A detailed report with a list of easy fixes to improve system performance
For additional inquires, contact water@resourcecentral.org or 303-999-3824.
Do-It-Yourself Sprinkler Evaluation Kit
Residential customers can borrow a kit with all the equipment and instructions needed to conduct a self-checkup of your system. Email savewater@fortcollins.gov to reserve a kit.
Irrigation Equipment Rebates
Utilities offers rebates on qualified water-efficient products from local and online retailers. Make sure the equipment you purchase is eligible by carefully reviewing equipment information below.
Applications must be submitted within 60 days of purchase. Please allow up to eight weeks for rebate processing. Funds are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Utilities reserves the right to verify equipment purchase and installation location for requested rebates. Rebates will come in the form of a bill credit on your utility bill.
| Eligible Equipment |
Rebate Amount |
Guidelines |
| Weather-based irrigation controller or add on |
Up to $65 |
- Rebate is intended for controllers connected to an in-ground irrigation system
- WaterSense certified; add on device will make an irrigation controller WaterSense certified and able to adapt watering schedules as weather changes
|
| Rotary nozzles |
Up to $4 per nozzle |
- Rotary nozzles, or high efficiency nozzles, slowly deliver multiple streams of water, reducing water waste
- Rotor nozzles, rotor heads, and pressure-reducing spray heads do not qualify
|
| Rain sensor |
Up to $20(wired)
Up to $40 (wireless) |
- Required to be connected to an underground irrigation system
- Wireless model is also required to be connected to a weather-based irrigation controller that controls an in-ground irrigation system
|
| Soil moisture sensor |
Up to $60 |
- Rebate is intended for equipment connected to a permanent in-ground irrigation system and calibrates with the irrigation controller to irrigate when moisture has been depleted from the soil
|
Drip conversion equipment
|
Up to $130
|
- Rebate is for converting grass/turf zones to drip irrigation; drip systems installed with a new in-ground irrigation system do not qualify
- Eligible equipment includes drip hose, conversion heads, emitters, hooks and clamps, risers, etc.
|
| Spigot timer |
Up to $65 |
- Timer is required to have an automatic shutoff
- Rebate is intended for equipment not associated with an in-ground irrigation system
|
| Flow sensor |
Up to $130 |
- Flow sensors measure how much water flows through an irrigation system and sends that information to an irrigation controller
- Required to be connected and configured to a compatible WaterSense irrigation controller and actively monitoring water usage
|
| Master valve |
Up to $130 |
- Installed at the base of the backflow device, which controls water flow into the main line of the system
|
| Pressure reducing valve (PRV) at point of connection |
Up to $260 |
- Large brass valve installed by a professional technician to reduce water pressure to an entire irrigation system; drip system pressure reducing valves do not qualify
- Requires pre-approval by Utilities staff to ensure equipment was properly installed
|
- All products must be installed at a Fort Collins Utilities residential water service address.
- Rebate applications must be submitted within 60 days of purchase/project completion.
- Proof of purchase required. Proof of purchase, or other supporting documentation must include date of purchase, price paid, model information to verify eligibility and shipping information if applicable.
Contact us with questions or to request a paper application.
Tax Information
If a utility makes a payment to you for your purchase or installation of water conservation equipment, the rebate may be considered (partially) taxable income by the IRS. If you receive rebate payments totaling $600 or more within one calendar year, and you are not organized as a corporation, Fort Collins Utilities will send you a1099-MISC in January or February of the following year. You may wish to consult a tax advisor if you plan to exceed $600 in rebates.
Garden In A Box
Reduce water use and upgrade your landscape the easy way. Do-it-yourself kits from Resource Central come with starter plants, a comprehensive Plant and Care Guide, and one to three plant-by-number maps.
Utilities water customers can receive a discount on spring and late summer garden boxes. Discounts are limited and are first come, first served.
WaterWise Lawncare
Day-of-the-Week Watering Schedule
To help manage peak demands on our water system, we ask residential customers to follow a voluntary watering schedule based on street address and only water turf grass on designated days throughout the irrigation season.
- Odd addresses: Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Saturdays
- Even addresses: Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Sundays
This watering schedule is voluntary and only applies to turf, not trees, gardens, drip irrigation, etc.
Watering Basics
Lawn watering accounts for nearly half of the water used annually by most homes and up to 70% of water demand on a summer day. Lawns typically get more water than needed. Too much water can be just as damaging to landscapes as too little.
Tips to most efficiently and effectively care for your lawn
- Only water between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m., when wind and evaporation are minimal.
- Aim to water one to two days per week so the grass develops deeper roots. Add a third day on weeks when temperatures are 90° or higher.
- Divide your total watering time into two blocks with an hour or two in between so the soil can better absorb the water and reduce runoff.
- Only water when grass turns a dull, bluish-gray color and footprints remain. After rain, skip watering until the grass dries.
- Mow early when it's cool to reduce stress on grass.
- Mow sharp – dull mower blades tear the grass causing it to stress.
- Mow higher – mow bluegrass 2 1/2 " - 3" tall to promote deeper rooting and to shade the plant's root zone. Never cut more than 1/3 of the leaf blade.
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil.
- Aerate your lawn at least once a year to relieve soil compaction. Apply and rake in plant-based compost after aerating to increase soil moisture retention.
- Use fertilizer sparingly, since it encourages grass growth that requires more water and mowing. Lightly fertilize bluegrass in the spring and fall.
- Be mindful of overwatering new sod installations to avoid water running off onto sidewalks and into storm drains.
Fall and Winter Landscape Care
Step 1: Prepare your landscape for dormancy
- Save your fall cleanup for spring. Leave spent plant material like flower stalks and dried ornamental grasses to provide food for birds and shelter for insects
- Aerate and apply plant-based compost to improve lawn health and reduce maintenance by helping air and water reach the root system
- Mulch fallen leaves into the lawn for beneficial nutrients
- Hand water weak areas of grass with a hose
- Apply fall fertilizer while irrigation is still active and water into grass
Step 2: Winterize in early October
- Shut off your sprinklers in early October. By shutting down irrigation to healthy lawns early in the fall, we can see a big decline in community water use.
- Winterize your system before the first freeze, which usually happens in early to mid-October.
- Disconnect and store hoses inside for the winter to prevent damage.
Step 3: Water Through the Fall and Winter
- Hand water trees, shrubs, lawns, and perennials during prolonged dry periods to prevent root damage that affects the health of the entire plant. Prioritize any areas of the landscape that were planted in the last year.
- Water only when air and soil temperatures are above 40 degrees F with no snow cover.
- Apply water at midday so it will have time to soak in before possible freezing at night. A solid layer (persisting for more than a month) of ice on lawns can cause suffocation or result in matted grass.
Tree Watering Guidelines
Watering Newly Planted Trees:
- Mid-April to mid-October: 40 gallons per week
- Mid-October through November: 40 gallons every two weeks
- December to Mid-April: 40 gallons per month
Watering Established Trees:
- Water established trees twice a month during dry spells in fall, winter and spring.
- 10 gallons of water for every inch of diameter of tree trunk, every 10 days during the summer.
Lawn Watering Guide
| |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
| Total volume of water per week |
1 in |
1.25 in |
1.5 in |
1.25 |
1 in |
.5 in |
| Number of days per week |
1-2 days |
2-3 days |
2-3 days |
2-3 days |
1-2 days |
1 day |
| Spray head run time |
2 cycles of 6 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 8 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 9 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 8 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 7 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 6 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
| Rotor head run time |
2 cycles of 16 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 18 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 20 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 18 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 16 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |
2 cycles of 16 mins 1-2 hours between cycles |