Why hire a QWEL certified professional?

When you hire a QWEL certified professional, you can expect more in-depth understanding of water-efficiency and conservation in the landscape. You can expect to:

  • Save money on your water bill.
  • Add diversity to your landscape.
  • Make sure your irrigation system is working at it's best.

Find a certified professional

Sponsored by the Nevada Landscape Association.

class participants doing a catch can test on turfgrass

What is QWEL?

Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) was created in 2007 by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership and has been modified to meet the needs of Nevadans. The training was designed to provide an affordable, proactive and local approach to reducing landscape water demands, as well as share the knowledge of water efficient and sustainable landscape principles. This program is EPA certified through the WaterSense program.

QWEL will provide participants with local water, soil and plant information, basic and advanced irrigation principles and hands-on water audit skills they can use in the field. The program covers the following topics:

  • Where our water comes from
  • Sustainable landscaping
  • Soils
  • Landscape water
  • Irrigation systems
  • Irrigation maintenance & troubleshooting
  • Irrigation system auditing
  • Irrigation scheduling
  • Irrigation controllers
 
News Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...
close up of plant
Certified Nursery Workers, Spring 2020
Certified Nursery Worker Professional List, Spring 2020 Class
Morris, C. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Bulletin
prickly pear cacti
Cold-hardy cacti
A list and description of cold-hardy cacti.
Fisher, J. 2018, Reno Gazette Journal
person performing catch can test on lawn
Look for QWEL-certified pros for your next landscape contract
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper is a new program to Nevada for landscape professionals to learn about irrigation principles for water-efficiency.
Fisher, J. 2018, Reno Gazette Journal
Preparing your landscape for a vacation
How to care for your landscape or garden during vacation in summer months.
Fisher, J. 2018, Reno Gazette Journal
Tips for Keeping Your Landscape Plants Alive During a Drought
A brief list of tips on how to protect your landscape during drought.
Kratsch, H. 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Blog

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Learn more about the program's team

Megan Andrews
Program Leader & Contact
Heidi Kratsch
Program Leader