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Water Authority’s Cash For Grass Program Resumes

The San Diego County Water Authority has resumed its rebate program for people replacing grass with synthetic turf. The water-saving program had been suspended when reports suggested the turf might po

The San Diego County Water Authority has resumed its rebate program for people replacing grass with synthetic turf. The water-saving program had been suspended when reports suggested the turf might pose a lead exposure risk.  KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission now says that young children are not at risk from exposure to lead in newer synthetic turf fields.

Small amounts were found on fields as old as nine years but the commission says tests show that those amounts would not be harmful to children.

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John Liarakos is with the San Diego County Water Authority. He says the authority has reinstated its program that gives rebates for people replacing grass with the synthetic turf.

Liarakos: The water authority offers a rebate of 50 cents per square foot for commercial and residential customers and 75 cents per square foot for public sites.

Liarakos says other water agencies offer additional rebates to lower the cost.

He says the cost of synthetic turn ranges from $6 to $15 a square foot. 

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.  

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