Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove homeowners can schedule a free irrigation evaluation this month and qualify for rebates of up to $500 a year for five years through Miami-Dade County's Landscape Irrigation Rebate Program.
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) announced the program push as part of Smart Irrigation Month, which runs through Friday, July 31. A county-certified evaluator visits the property, identifies leaks and inefficiencies, and recommends upgrades. Homeowners who complete the recommended improvements become eligible for the annual rebate.
Larger properties get a bigger incentive. Homeowner associations, hotels, and commercial properties can receive up to $2,850 per property, according to the county.
The push comes as the 2026 Biscayne Bay Report Card, released in May, found all regions of the bay remain in poor or fair health, with fertilizer runoff carried by summer rains a top contributor. Miami-Dade's seasonal fertilizer ban, which prohibits nitrogen and phosphorus applications from May 15 through Oct. 31, is already in effect.
"In 2025 alone, customers participating in our conservation rebate programs helped save more than 116,000 gallons of water per day," said WASD Director Jay J. Fink, P.E.
Since the county's Comprehensive Conservation Program launched in 2007, water demand has dropped by roughly nine million gallons per day even as the population grew. Per capita use fell from 153 to 139 gallons daily as of 2025, according to WASD.
WASD also offers a Rain Barrel Rebate Program for residents who complete a virtual workshop on rainwater harvesting and purchase a qualifying barrel. Workshop dates were not listed in the county announcement; residents can check the WASD website for the current schedule.
How to participate: Visit miamidade.gov/global/water/home.page to request a free irrigation evaluation or learn about available rebates.
Key dates:
- Smart Irrigation Month ends Friday, July 31
- Miami-Dade fertilizer ban (nitrogen and phosphorus): in effect through Saturday, Oct. 31
