Overwhelmed with requests for turf replacement rebates, the Metropolitan Water District says it is temporarily out of money for its cash-for-grass program. And as Southern Californians rush to remove thirsty lawns amid the lingering drought, the agency says it is considering new limits on turf replacement rebates.
The water district board plans to vote at a special meeting this month to increase its conservation budget by $150 million and implement new limits on rebates. The agency says it is continuing to fill its existing rebate requests on a first-come, first-served basis, but applications submitted after Tuesday, May 12, won't be funded until the new budget is approved.
Requests for turf rebates have exploded since Gov. Jerry Brown on April 1 announced historic drought restrictions that included a mandate to reduce urban water usage statewide by 25 percent.
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