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Nampa staff launch "Nampa in Bloom" water‑wise program, offer turf‑replacement rebates and recycled‑water expansion
Summary
City staff introduced a new water conservation campaign—Nampa in Bloom—offering rebates for turf replacement and irrigation controller upgrades, expanding recycled water reuse, and piloting wetlands and contaminant‑reduction projects at the water renewal plant.
Nampa public works officials on Wednesday introduced "Nampa in Bloom," a new water‑wise program that pairs homeowner rebates, landscape guidelines and infrastructure projects to reduce irrigation demand and expand recycled water reuse.
Jeff Miranda, water resources director, described the program as an outgrowth of earlier drought planning and a collaboration among local water providers and irrigation districts. Program elements include homeowner incentives to replace high‑water turf with water‑wise landscaping (rebates of $25–$100 per parcel for qualified conversions), controller upgrades to smart irrigation controllers, and public outreach—tree lists, design guidance and demonstration projects.
Miranda said the city currently recycles about 11 million gallons per day from the renewal plant and plans to increase seasonal reuse via canals and storage ponds. The city also continued its Karcher Wetlands pilot to treat Indian Creek flows and is testing technologies to reduce emerging contaminants at the wastewater plant.
Miranda said the first program kickoff will be Feb. 27 and the city is seeking an initial cohort of about 10 participants, with an expected expansion in future years. He said park irrigation accounts for roughly 10 percent of the city's potable use and staff is exploring how to convert portions of park irrigation to lower‑water options.
Why it matters: The program aims to lower potable water demand, protect water quality and demonstrate reuse options that can reduce system peak needs during summer irrigation seasons. Rebates and targeted public projects are intended to jump‑start household behavior change and provide visible models for lower‑water landscapes.
What’s next: Nampa will open applications for the first round of homeowner rebates, continue the water reuse pilot into the next irrigation season, and present results and lessons learned to council during program rollout.
