Lake Oswego's Water Use Assessment Rebate Program has earned a national award for outdoor water conservation.

The Irrigation Association announced Oct. 22 that it named the city the recipient of its Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) 2026 Outstanding Industry Partnership Award.

The award was announced during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference.

The recognition goes to programs that strengthen collaboration between water providers and irrigation professionals to advance outdoor water-use efficiency, according to the Irrigation Association.

The city's rebate program provides up to $200 in utility bill credit to residents who hire a qualified irrigation professional to evaluate their outdoor watering systems.

Assessments identify inefficiencies and recommend property-specific improvements. The program runs first-come, first-served during irrigation season, according to the city's program page.

The program pairs those professional evaluations with data from the city's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system, giving residents real-time information about their water use.

Participating properties have reduced peak-season water use by 22% to 45% year over year, according to the Irrigation Association. In one comparison, four participating accounts collectively saved nearly 22,000 gallons of water in a single month.

Irrigation Association CEO Natasha Rankin said the program demonstrates the value of connecting water providers, customers and qualified irrigation professionals to achieve conservation results, according to the association's announcement.

The program emphasizes working with trained irrigation professionals who hold industry certifications, such as the Irrigation Association's certified irrigation designer, certified irrigation contractor or certified landscape irrigation auditor credentials.

A water use assessment should help optimize existing irrigation systems and landscaping to meet water-saving practices, according to the city. The program is available to Lake Oswego water customers, and details on covered items and selection of a qualified professional are available on the city's application forms.

Residents can contact the city's Water Conservation Department at 503-675-3747 for more information.