What are the landscape requirements for the rebate?
1. Before hiring a landscape irrigation professional or having any work done, you must contact the JCSA to ensure your eligibility. Please call (757) 253-6859 or email bewatersmart@james-city.va.us
2. Hire a Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designer. You will receive a greater rebate if you hire an EPA WaterSense landscape irrigation professional partner. For a list of Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designers, please see their website at www.vsld.org or call them at (804) 355-5211. For a list of WaterSense partnering landscape irrigation professionals, see www.epa.gov/watersense/.
3. Have your landscape/irrigation professional(s) prepare a detailed aerial landscape plan. If installing irrigation system components, also include irrigation on your plan. Have them complete the landscaping/irrigation work according to the JCSA Water Smart landscape requirements in the following section.
4. After landscaping/irrigation work is completed, submit the rebate form, copy of receipt, and detailed aerial landscape and irrigation plan stamped or signed by your landscape professional and, if applicable, by your EPA WaterSense landscape irrigation professional partner.
The landscape and irrigation system must fulfill the following requirements:
A. Water-Efficient Landscaping
- No more than 30 percent, up to 5,000 square feet, of the lot’s pervious areas will be allowed turf irrigation.
- All plantings must be native or water wise plants from the JCSA Water Smart Plant List. In-ground irrigation is not permitted for plantings and other non-turf areas. Plants must be grouped by water needs. It is recommended that plantings not be irrigated at all, but drip irrigation is permitted.
- Wherever possible, existing trees and vegetation must be retained. Pre-existing vegetation may not be irrigated.
- Trees located in turf areas must be mulched.
- Warm season grasses such as Zoysia and Bermuda must be used.
B. Irrigation Systems
For details, call the Outdoor Water Info Line (24 hours, 7 days a week) at 259-4152, JCSA Customer Service (M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) at 253-6800 or visit JCSA’s website.
What certification must my landscape/irrigation professional have?
You must hire a Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designer.
You will receive a greater rebate if you hire an EPA WaterSense landscape irrigation professional partner.
For a list of Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designers, please see their website at www.vsld.org or call them at (804) 355-5211. For a list of WaterSense partnering landscape irrigation professionals, see www.epa.gov/watersense/.
How much is the rebate and what are the requirements?
Rebate Amount
- JCSA will refund up to $150 if landscape rebate requirements are fulfilled with the hiring of a Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designer, not exceeding the cost of landscape service and irrigation installation/removal.
- JCSA will refund up to $250 if landscape rebate requirements are fulfilled with the hiring of a WaterSense partnering landscape irrigation professional, not exceeding the cost of landscape service and irrigation installation/removal.
Other Requirements
- Applicant must be a JCSA residential water customer. Account balance must be current
- Landscape service, irrigation installation, and/or irrigation removal must be purchased on or after January 1, 2010, to be eligible for the rebate.
- Landscape professional must be on a current list of Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, found at www.vsld.org. If hiring a EPA WaterSense Partner for greater rebate, landscape irrigation professional must be on a current list of EPA WaterSense Partners, as found at www.epa.gov/watersense.
- Before hiring a landscape irrigation professional or having any work done, you must contact the JCSA at (757) 253-6859 or bewatersmart@james-city.va.us.
- Landscape service, irrigation installation, and/or irrigation removal must occur prior to application for rebate.
- Limit one Water Smart Landscape Rebate per JCSA water customer.
- Applicant is solely responsible for purchase and installation arrangements and payments.
- Applicant agrees to allow JCSA inspector access to the premises in order to inspect landscape if selected for random inspection.
- To be eligible for rebate, survey and form must be completed in their entirety and enclosed with copy of receipt and detailed aerial landscape and irrigation plan certified (stamped or signed) by your landscape / irrigation professional(s).
What resources are available on creating and maintaining ‘water smart’ landscapes?
For tips on how to make your landscape hardier and healthier such as required maintenance, weed control, testing soil pH, mulching, and groundcover, check out our Let’s Be Water Smart Landscaping Guide (PDF) and the Hampton Roads Water Efficiency Team Water Wise Landscaping & Watering Guide (PDF).
What are some benefits of a water smart landscape?
- Save Water. The James City Service Authority estimates that in the summer months, a typical American household can save about 41 thousand gallons a year, or a little over 10 thousand gallons per quarter if they reduce their turf irrigation to 30 percent of pervious lot area.
- Save Money. The same turf irrigation removal can save a typical household almost $50 a quarter.
- Have a Healthier, Easier to Manage Lawn. Turf studies show that most lawns only need irrigation once every 4 to 8 days to stay healthy and green. Irrigating every day results in shallow roots and more weeds; irrigating less often and applying more water per irrigation results in deeper roots and healthier turf. By following our Water Smart Landscape Rebate requirements, you can have a healthier lawn and use less water. Zoyasia and Bermuda grass lawns only require a 1/2 inch of water per week.
What must I do before I pursue the rebate?
Before hiring a landscape irrigation professional or having any work done, you must contact the JCSA at (757) 253-6859 or bewatersmart@james-city.va.us.
Where can I visit a water smart landscape before I pursue the rebate?
Seeing is believing. What do native and drought tolerant gardens look like? Before converting your yard, visit these sites:
What professionals in the area are properly certified for this rebate?
Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) Certified Landscape Designers
The following Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designers serve the James City County area. This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge but is subject to change. For a complete list of Virginia Society of Landscape Designers (VSLD) certified Landscape Designers, please see their website at www.vsld.org and select “Members” or call them at (804) 355-5211.
Peggy Krapf
Hearts Ease Landscape and Garden Design
7884 Richmond Rd, Toano, VA 23168
(757) 566-9088
Diana J. Marahrens
Accolades Landscape Designs
4752 Bristol Circle, Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 229-4368
Don Newsom
Delightful Gardens Landscape Co., Inc.
7242 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 253-1933
Douglas Lockwood
Southern Blue Lawn & Landscape, LLC
112 West Kingswood Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 592-4094
Joe Hertzler
Hertzler and George
P.O. Box 457, Williamsburg, VA 23187
(757) 229-9668
The JCSA does not endorse specific brands, products, contractors, or companies. List does not denote preference. If you notice that our list is out of date, please email bewatersmart@james-city.va.us or call us at 253-6859. JCSA reserves the right to control web content.
EPA WaterSense Landscape Irrigation Professional Partners
The following WaterSense Landscape Irrigation Professional Partners serve the James City County area. This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge but is subject to change. For a complete list of EPA WaterSense landscape irrigation professional partners, please see their website at www.epa.gov/watersense/.
Brian Gibson & Bill Kennon
Heads UpSprinkler Systems, Inc.
3716 Cook Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23323
(757) 485-7353
Chris Hale
BioForm Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design
Richmond, VA
(804) 914-2248
Daniel Biggs
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
13221 Woodland Park Road, Suite 400, Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 674-1321
Jimmy Haines
National Turf & Irrigation
11843 Tugboat Lane,
Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 873-2424
Montgomery Irrigation
10986 Leadbetter Road, Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 550-1771
James Sheshene
April Showers, Inc.
P.O. Box 1068, Yorktown , VA 23692
(757) 875-0105
Tommy Edwards
Irrigation Concepts, LLC
3320 John Tree Hill Rd, Powhatan, VA 23139
(804) 822-0083
The JCSA does not endorse specific brands, products, contractors, or companies. List does not denote preference. If you notice that our list is out of date, please email bewatersmart@james-city.va.us or call us at 253-6859. JCSA reserves the right to control web content.
What else can I do to conserve municipal water?
In order to save additional water:
What else can I do to reduce runoff and protect my local waterways?
Water Smart landscaping works great in conjunction with other stormwater management and low impact development features, such as green roofs, rain gardens, porous pavement, and proper retention pond maintenance.
See the PRIDE (Protecting Resources in Delicate Environments) website for information about:
- Turf Love, a partner program with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteers to teach homeowners how to produce healthy turf while reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides,
- Simple tips to protect our waterways, and
- A primer on rain gardens (.pdf), which are gardens developed in low-lying areas where drainage collects, so that your stormwater runoff helps your garden grow instead of hurting your local waterways.
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