SF WPS Community Garden Irrigation Meter Grant Program

The SF WPS Community Garden Irrigation Meter Grant Program supports urban agriculture by providing up to $12,000 for irrigation water service installation. This initiative enables community gardens to track water usage efficiently, promoting sustainable practices. Additionally, a $1,300 rebate is available for backflow prevention devices. Grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, ensuring that eligible urban agriculture projects can thrive and contribute to local food systems.

Pilot Community Garden Irrigation Meter Grant
We offer grant support to help urban agriculture projects and community and demonstration gardens better track and manage their irrigation water use.
Our agency has developed the following programs that support the efficient use of water throughout local urban agriculture, demonstration, and community gardens.
The SFPUC offers a grant program designed to help urban agriculture projects and community and demonstration gardens better track and manage their irrigation water use. The Community Garden Irrigation Meter Grant Program offers a one-time waiver, up to $12,000, in SFPUC fees for the installation of a new dedicated irrigation water service and meter for eligible projects that will be maintained for a minimum 10-year span.
Backflow Prevention Device Rebate
An additional $1,300 rebate is available to help community gardens install the required backflow prevention device. Please review the grant guidelines and application below for complete eligibility criteria and terms. Grant funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Grant funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Eligibility

The Grant Program is available to any institutional, residential, or commercial water user who needs retail water service to irrigate an urban agriculture, community, or demonstration garden. The garden to be watered (excluding any hardscapes and non-irrigable areas) must be at least 2,000 square feet or larger to be eligible for the Grant Program. Applicants may include City departments, hospitals, schools, non-profits, community groups, neighborhood associations, developers, homeowners, landlords, or businesses.Projects must meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible:An urban agriculture project with proof of receiving, or intent to receive, a change-of-use permit from the San Francisco Planning Department per the Urban Agriculture Ordinance approving their status as an urban agriculture site;A small scale urban market garden designed and operated for urban food production;A community garden sponsored by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department with a signed Community Garden Plot Agreement; orA garden established for demonstration or other instructional programing purposes.An approved backflow prevention device is required for all irrigation water service connections.For more information on backflow prevention requirements, please contact the SFPUC Water Quality Cross Connection Division or see here.All activities must comply with applicable local, state and federal permit requirements.A plumbing permit from the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection is required to install the approved backflow prevention device. The permit cost is eligible for a rebate from the SFPUC.