Landscape professionals invited to attend free water efficiency certification training 

Image shows a colorful illustration of landcaping.

Corte Madera – Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) training will take place in person every Wednesday in March at Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross. Hosted by Marin Water and sponsored by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, the free training is available to landscape professionals conducting work in Marin County, Sonoma County and throughout the Bay Area. 

“Water-efficient landscaping plays a critical role in protecting our natural resources,” said Board President Jed Smith. “We’re proud to bring this free training to our community and equip landscapers with the skills they need to design and maintain sustainable landscapes.” 

To obtain QWEL certification, participants must complete an irrigation audit during the training and pass the exam on March 25, 2026. Sessions will be held on the following dates, with lunch provided: 

  • March 4: 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
  • March 11: 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
  • March 18: 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • March 25 (Exam Day): 7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. 

Those who earn their QWEL certification will be listed as a Certified Professional on the QWEL and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense websites, which are actively promoted by water agencies in Marin and Sonoma counties. 

Offering a local, proactive approach to water-efficient and sustainable landscape practices, the training covers topics such as: 

  • Sustainable landscape design principles 
  • Soil properties and health 
  • Plant water needs 
  • Overhead spray irrigation system audits 
  • Irrigation system troubleshooting and maintenance 
  • Irrigation system programming and operation 

The training will be taught in English by QWEL-certified instructor Chris Reamer. Since launching his eco-landscape contracting firm in 2011, Reamer has worked extensively throughout California at the forefront of landscape water conservation and instructed more than 40 trainings across the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Each participant will have access to a QWEL Reference Manual on loan during the training, which must be returned after the exam. Attendees may also purchase a physical copy or download a free PDF version of the manual. 

This free training course requires advance registration. Space is limited, and registration closes Feb. 20, 2026, or when the class is full. To register, visit qrco.de/WaterEfficientLandscaper.  

Back to news listing