How to get paid to save water
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Mesa wants to pay you thousands to save water.
Why it matters: Amid drought and impending water cuts from the Colorado River, residents can qualify for hundreds or even thousands of dollars for water-efficient upgrades around the house.
State of play: Some Valley cities opt for conservation instead of acquiring additional sources of water, which can prove more complicated and expensive.
What they're saying: "In our desert environment, we all have a role to play in using water wisely," Lauren Whittaker, deputy director of the city of Mesa's Environmental and Sustainability Department, tells Axios.
- "These individual choices add up; it's a win-win for our residents and the city," she adds.
By the numbers: The city says 46 residential and 12 commercial Grass-to-Xeriscape projects were completed in fiscal year 2025, replacing nearly 185,000 square feet of grass with desert landscaping.
- The city estimates those projects will save about 5 million gallons of water each year.
- Since the program launched in 2007, it has saved more than 300 million gallons.
How it works: Several kinds of property upgrades qualify.
Smarter irrigation systems
Mesa's popular Landscape Irrigation Equipment Incentive provides up to $20,000 per property for efficient irrigation equipment like smart controllers, high-efficiency nozzles and flow sensors.
Landscaping
Mesa homeowners can get up to $2,100 for replacing at least 500 square feet of grass with desert-friendly landscaping while commercial properties qualify for up to $50,000 for replacing at least 2,500 square feet.
Help for HOAs
Mesa also offers homeowners associations an online water management tool, Waterfluence, which compares actual water use with recommended levels based on landscape size, plant types and daily weather conditions.
The bottom line: Upgrade your yard through city rebates to save water and lower your monthly bill.