Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Fall 2025

QWEL was created in 2007 by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership and has been modified to meet the needs of Nevadans. The training is 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.

The training 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
• Bringing it all Together

Participants can take the 18-hour training course just for the knowledge, or they can also take the exam to obtain certification. To be certified, participants must do the water audit and pass the exam. Upon certification, professionals will need to continue their education with at least 2 continuing education units per year to uphold their certification.

With the continued need to reduce water use and create a more sustainable landscape, certified professionals will be making progressive strides to earn the knowledge and practical skills to meet this need.

Being that QWEL is EPA certified, participants who QWEL certify will not only be part of the QWEL.net directory of qualified professionals, but will also be listed as certified professionals in a searchable database on the WaterSense website. Certified QWEL professionals can use the logo on their trucks and business cards as a means of marketing their qualifications with their customers.

When:

• Monday, October 13th, 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 14th, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 15th, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Includes Water Audit)

• Thursday, October 16th, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Cost: FREE! Truckee Meadows Water Authority has generously donated to cover the cost of the course and exam to promote water efficiency in the Truckee Meadows and beyond.

Registration is a two step process:

1. Register at QWEL.net
2. Register on Eventbrite.com.

Event co-sponsored by Truckee Meadows Water Authority.

The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at [email protected] or 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.

Host or Publisher University of Nevada, Reno Extension