“With an estimated 40% of our city’s water used outdoors, LADWP’s turf replacement programs for commercial and residential customers go a long way toward reducing our water use across the city, said James McDaniel, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager –Water System. “Our rebate programs are investments in permanent water conservation that will help reduce our reliance on expensive imported water and we thank the VA and The Turf Company for partnering with us.”

The transformation of a once under utilized, heavily water grassy area to a drought tolerant garden was carried out by The Turf Company, which is owned and operated by U.S.military veteran John Young. Young hired and training 20 patients of the VA’s Greater L.A. Health System, providing valuable on the job training and certification in such areas as forklift operation, CPR, and OSHA 10. Through this project, veterans learned how to install irrigation systems, properly sizing the piping for maximum efficiency with existing flows and pressures.

Of additional benefit to the VA’s patients, the newly landscaped area featuring drought-tolerant plants will serve as a healing environment for patients and their families. The Health System will use the transformed area as an application of the Planetree model, promoting healing through interaction with natural spaces.

“This project is a sterling example of environmental thoughtfulness, great job training and local and federal governmental entities cooperating well.  That it is happening at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System makes it all the sweeter,” said LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz.

“This partnership between the VA and the Los Angeles DWP is a great example of intergovernmental collaboration that ultimately resulted in a win for the Veterans involved in the project, as well as those whom we’ll be able to better serve through conserving our resources,” said Donna Beiter, Director of VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

“This landscaping project has been a win-win for the city of Los Angeles and for veterans. We hope to be able to work together in the future to continue to bring water savings and job creation to the city,” said John Young, The Turf Company President.

Since June 2009, when LADWP began mandatory water conservation, LADWP customers have reduced their water use by nearly 20%, saving more than 42 billion gallons– enough to serve the cities of Burbank, Santa Monica, Long Beach and Beverly Hills, combined. LADWP’s governmental customers, which includes the VA’s Greater L.A. Health System, achieved a combined savings that exceeded all other sectors, successfully reducing water use by more than 30% in the same period.

The Commercial/Industrial Drought Resistant Landscape Incentive Program, which pays $1 for each square foot of turf replaced, is one of the many water and money saving programs available to LADWP customers. Introduced in 2009, the program has replaced 42.7 acres of turf, resulting in a combined water savings of 46.3 million gallons a year. Turf replacement incentive programs, offering a $1 per square foot, are also available for LADWP’s residential customers through LADWP’s Residential Drought Tolerant Resistant Landscape Program.

LADWP offers several rebate programs to help customers save water and money indoors and outdoors. Customers interested in tips on how to conserve water or in information on rebate programs can visit www.ladwp.com or call 1-800-DIAL DWP.