ABCWUA rebate help
ABCWUA Xeriscape Rebate Help in Albuquerque
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) currently advertises a per-square-foot rebate for qualifying turf-to-xeriscape conversions in its service area. This page explains how the rebate works, why pre-approval is required, and how a rebate-ready consultation request can be prepared.
What ABCWUA controls
- Rebate eligibility
- Pre-conversion inspection
- Approval of the conversion plan
- Final rebate amount and any caps
- Post-conversion inspection
- Rebate payment timing
What this consultation request line can help with
- Routing the request to a local provider familiar with the ABCWUA process
- Help preparing a rebate-ready conversion plan: plant counts, mulch coverage, and drip-conversion approach
- Help scheduling the ABCWUA pre-approval inspection before any turf removal
- Help preparing post-conversion documentation
- Written design proposal and itemized pricing before any installation work begins
Typical rebate-ready project flow
- Submit a consultation request with the property address, water provider, turf square footage, and timeline.
- If the address is in the ABCWUA service area and a provider is available, the request is routed.
- The provider visits the property, photographs existing conditions, and prepares a rebate-ready conversion plan.
- The rebate application is submitted to ABCWUA for pre-approval. Do not remove turf yet.
- ABCWUA inspects existing turf and approves (or denies) the conversion plan.
- Approved projects move to installation: turf removal, drip conversion, plant install, hardscape, mulch.
- ABCWUA conducts post-conversion inspection and processes the rebate.
Common ABCWUA conversion requirements
Requirements change periodically and should be verified at abcwua.org. Common provisions in past program rules include:
- Pre-approval before any turf removal
- Minimum plant coverage in the converted area
- Spray irrigation in the conversion area must be capped or converted to drip, bubbler, or hand-watering
- Mulch or rock cover requirements over bare soil
- Per-property and lifetime rebate caps
- Property must be inside the ABCWUA service area
What if my address is in Rio Rancho?
Rio Rancho is not ABCWUA. Water service in Rio Rancho is provided by SSCAFCA and the City of Rio Rancho, which run their own conservation programs with separate rules and rebate amounts. The matched provider can help you understand which local program applies before a rebate-ready project is planned.
What this site does not do
- We are not ABCWUA and do not approve, deny, or pay rebates.
- We do not guarantee a project will be approved for the rebate.
- We do not guarantee the current rebate amount, which can change.
- We do not handle rebate inspections — those are conducted by ABCWUA.
Current ABCWUA rebate amount
ABCWUA currently advertises a $3.00 per square foot rebate for qualifying turf-to-xeriscape conversions. Per-property and lifetime caps apply. Confirm the current rate, caps, and rules at abcwua.org before relying on them for project planning.
Albuquerque Xeriscape is a free consultation request line. Work is performed by an independent local New Mexico designer or installer when available. Provider identity, scope, written pricing, schedule, license/insurance documentation, and rebate eligibility are confirmed before work begins.