QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper) is professional certification program that provides landscapers with the education, tools, and irrigation audit experience to design and maintain highly water efficient and sustainable landscapes.

The QWEL curriculum was designed by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership comprised of experts in the field of efficient landscape watering practices. Each class, taught by local water efficiency and landscaping experts, provides landscape professionals with hands-on demonstrations and 20 hours of education on local water supply, sustainable landscaping, soils, water budgeting and water management, irrigation system componentss and maintenance, irrigation system audits, and scheduling and controller programming and operation. Links to the QWEL Reference Manual, irrigation audit form, and other relevant information can be found below. Graduates of the QWEL course may be listed for hire on the QWEL website and also the EPA WaterSense website.  

South Metro Water Supply Authority and the City of Aspen are Professional Certified Organizations (PCOs) now facilitating the QWEL program in Colorado. The Eagle River Water & Sanitation District near Vail, CO is the latest Colorado provider to become a PCO for the QWEL program in Colorado. In 2019, South Metro Water updated the core CA curriculum to reflect water supply, constraints, and conditions specific to the South Denver Metro region. South Metro Water has since certified 100 professionals in the region, and we are actively developing Spanish materials incorporating local content for Spanish-preferred irrigation and water efficiency professionals beginning in late 2021.  

Next QWEL Training

View all trainings, see below.

QWEL Pros: Don't Forget to Enter CEUs!

Annual renewal of your QWEL certificate is FREE, but requires that you participate in continuing education that relates to irrigation and water management. Continuing education is self-reported through the QWEL Pro Intranet. Two (2) continuing education units (CEUs) are required each calendar year. CONTACT Angie Grunder AT angiegrunder@southmetrowater.org OR 720-216-5158 If You Need Further Help Entering Your Ceus.

The rules are simple. 1 CEU must relate to efficient irrigation. 1 CEU can relate to any green industry topic, irrigation or otherwise.

While in person CEU events are the best way to stay up to date with developments in the irrigation industry, online learning is a great alternative for last minute CEUs.