Draper homeowners can get cash back for ripping out water-hungry grass and upgrading fixtures, with rebates reaching $3 per square foot for lawn replacement through the city's partnership with Utah Water Savers.

Linda Peterson, Draper's communications director, posted an update Friday, Aug. 7 noting that the city cut water use by 9% in May and 12% in June, exceeding the 10% reduction target set by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District under its Level 2 drought designation. Gov. Spencer Cox declared a statewide drought emergency on Thursday, May 21.

With that milestone met, the city is pointing residents toward longer-term savings available through the landscape incentive program.

What's available

The rebates, administered through Utah Water Savers, cover several project types:

• Lawn-to-xeriscape conversion: Up to $3 per square foot for replacing turf with water-efficient landscaping. Park strips, side yards and full yards all qualify.
• Drip irrigation: $1 per square foot for converting to drip systems.
• Tree planting: $50 per tree for adding trees to your landscape.
• Smart irrigation controllers: Up to $100 for purchasing and installing a WaterSense-labeled controller that adjusts watering based on local weather.
• Toilet replacement: Up to $150 per toilet when swapping a pre-1994 model for a WaterSense-labeled unit. Residents can submit up to two toilets per application.

All incentives are subject to funding availability. No deadline has been set.

How to apply

Residents can check eligibility and start an application at utahwatersavers.com by selecting "Draper" from the list of participating cities. The site links to the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's rebate portal for program details.

Why the city is pushing conservation now

The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District supplies water to Draper and other Salt Lake County communities. Its Level 2 designation requires member cities to achieve a 10% reduction to protect shared reservoir levels.

Draper's parks department delayed its own irrigation start until May 15, leaving some park strips visibly brown as a signal of the city's commitment. In 2023, the city adopted development standards that reduced turf requirements and mandated water-efficient irrigation for commercial, mixed-use and multi-family projects.

The city's 2025 water conservation plan shows Draper's 2024 per-capita usage hit 165 gallons per day, already below its own goal of 183 gallons per day and well under the regional 2030 target of 187 gallons per day.

Commercial properties must limit watering to between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. No restricted hours apply to residential watering, though the city advises avoiding the warmest hours and windy days.

Upcoming community dates

• Thursday, Aug. 13: Draper City tax-rate hearing on the proposed 25% property tax increase.
• Saturday, Aug. 15: Corner Canyon football opens the season at No. 4 Davis.