Get amazing landscape ideas, meet experts, get discounts, and more at these two events coming up in early March!
16th Annual SRP Water Conservation Expo
Salt River Project (SRP) invites Valley customers to learn about water conservation and water supplies at the 16th Annual SRP Water Conservation Expo on March 4, 2023, from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a “smart” irrigation controller at a discounted price and attend classes. Approximately 40 exhibitors will be at the event, including municipalities, water organizations, the Water – Use It Wisely campaign, and vendors with water-efficient products.
Additionally, SRP representatives will demonstrate how to measure snowpack with five tons of snow. Classes include: smart irrigation controller classes with Hunter and Rachio representatives, Irrigation 101 with Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply and Easy Care with Xeriscape Landscaping with horticulturist, Donna DiFrancesco.
Special guest appearance by AZ PLANT LADY!
Meet local landscaping celebrity Noelle Johnson, aka AZ Plant Lady, and learn about her new book, Dry Climate Gardening! She is an expert horticulturist, landscape consultant, and garden writer and helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful landscapes that thrive in a hot, arid climate. Come meet AZ Plant Lady in person at the Water – Use It Wisely booth. She will on site to discuss “Planting Ahead” spring gardening ideas, and will also be giving away five free Dry Climate Gardening books!
Buy a Smart Irrigation Controller for Just $60*
At the SRP Water Conservation Expo, you can purchase a Hunter Pro-HC with Hydrawise™ (retail value $528) or a Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller (retail value $199.99) and includes the outdoor enclosure box (retail value $29.99) for $60 plus tax* (limit one per household). SRP has partnered with Ewing, Hunter and Rachio to provide this special price for the controllers. SRP offers an instant rebate of $110 on the Ewing discounted price of $170 for the Hunter and Rachio controller. *Customer is responsible for sales tax on the Ewing discounted price before an SRP instant rebate is applied. Quantities are limited.
Smart controllers automatically tailor watering schedules and run times on sprinklers and drip systems to meet specific landscape needs. These systems use weather data and site conditions to determine how much water to apply and when to run. The cycle and soak feature allows the controller to adjust run times based on soil conditions and slope to reduce or eliminate water runoff. Smart controllers can reduce water use by as much as 20 percent — significant savings considering that landscape watering can account for up to 70 percent of a household’s water use!
Visit srp.net/expo for additional information and to register. Check with your water provider, as many — such as the cities of Avondale, Chandler, Peoria, and Scottsdale — offer irrigation controller rebates and may be able to assist with the cost of the controller. Contact your local water conservation office for details. For more information on smart irrigation controllers, visit SRP’s FAQ page. Remember, there are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
4th Annual Sustainable Landscapes EXPO in Tucson
The 4th Annual Sustainable Landscapes EXPO on March 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a free, family-friendly event that will include over 40 exhibits to increase knowledge on efficient water usage and sustainable landscaping 
in the Southern Arizona desert. There will be educational, hands-on, and interactive activities for adults and kids, as well as giveaways, a (free) raffle for items and services, and food trucks. One of Tucson’s local nurseries, Civano Growers, will be giving away 200 free trees! Additionally, Brad Lancaster (rainwater harvesting expert) will be presenting. Be sure to also enjoy the entertainment from Mr. Nature’s Little Leafs, Roots & Jams!
Tucson Water is a proud co-host of the Sustainable Landscapes Expo and will have a significant presence at the event with information conservation programs such as the Storm to Shade Program, watering guides, free resources and giveaways, and other opportunities available to customers. As one of the proud nineteen Water Use It Wisely partners, Tucson Water will also be representing the campaign with fun swag, giveaways, and information about the ongoing outreach and water-saving tips offered by the website and social media channels.
New This Year – Discounts Offered on Smart Irrigation Controllers!
New This Year – Discounts Offered on Smart Irrigation Controllers! Tucson Water will be offering a limited number of discounted smart irrigation controllers that customers will be able to purchase online and pick-up at the Expo (or later date). Customers will be required to take a class on how to use this controller before taking their controller home. Classes will be offered virtually. These controllers will be available for $100 + sales tax.
The Sustainable Landscapes EXPO is just part of the effort to engage the Southern Arizona community in using water wisely in our precious desert landscapes. The event takes place at Pima County Cooperative Extension. 4210 N. Campbell Ave. in Tucson. Visit the Sustainable Landscapes EXPO website for more information, including Expo registration, raffle entry, and information on the irrigation controller instant rebate program!
Blog Authors:
SRP Water Conservation Expo:
Leeann Yacuel is a Senior Water Planning Analyst with SRP, one of 19 Water – Use It Wisely partners to offer water-saving advice and assistance programs.
Sustainable Landscapes Expo:
Karen Hanshaw is the Pima Smartscape Program Manager with over 20 years of experience coordinating education programs. She works to ensure that Smartscape meets the educational needs of the professional landscape community and residential water users regarding best management practices for sustainable landscapes and efficient irrigation.
Valeria Galindo is a Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Tucson – Tucson Water and helps move forward conservation efforts through improvement of conservation programming, rebate program expansion, and equitable community outreach. She participates in the steering committee for Water – Use It Wisely where she works closely with regional partners to further spread water conservation awareness.