LOS ANGELES - (INT) - Water conservation efforts are being ramped up, now and for the long term.

Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have approved the nation’s largest turf removal and water conservation program that over the next decade is expected to generate enough water savings to nearly fill the region’s largest reservoir—Diamond Valley Lake in Riverside County.

The significant expansion of the turf removal component is expected to remove about 175 million square feet of lawn, more than triple Gov. Brown’s goal for the entire state. The conversion is projected to save about 80 million gallons of water a day for Southern California, or enough water for 160,000 households.

Metropolitan’s board at a special meeting Tuesday added $350 million to the district’s conservation budget to a new total of $450 million over two years. Together with local rebate programs of more than $50 million, the total regional investment will be more than half a billion dollars and using existing revenues will be done without impacting water rates.

Along with the conservation budget increase, Metropolitan’s board also modified the agency’s turf removal program to ensure rebates continue to be available to homeowners, businesses and public agencies throughout the Southland during the drought. Program changes establish rebate tiers based on the amount of turf being removed, with the intent of reaching as many residents and businesses as possible, the MWD said.

Story Date: May 31, 2015