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Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Program
QWEL in Aspen
The City of Aspen is a Professional Certifying Organization (PCO) for the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Program. Aspen became a PCO in 2018 in order to provide local landscape professionals with a free training course to become certified third party water auditors as specified in Aspen’s Water Efficient Landscaping Standards.
The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper program is an affordable, local training providing landscape professionals with 20+ hours of education on principles of proper plant selection for the local climate, irrigation system design and maintenance, and irrigation system programming and operation. QWEL is an EPA WaterSense labeled Professional Certification Program for Irrigation System Audits.
QWEL Training Class - Fall 2022 Flyer
COVID-19 Landscape Rules
As of April 23, 2020 you may return to your landscape jobs in Aspen; however, you must adhere to Pitkin County Public Health rules.
English Version:
(https://aspen.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5826/Pitkin-County-Landscaping-COVID-19-Business-Safety-Plan)
Spanish Version:
(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HI8C_j3zk5TRk-W8IlDgWxIM6wy8B3Bh/view?usp=sharing)
In order to obtain the QWEL certificate, an individual must demonstrate their ability to perform an irrigation system audit and pass the QWEL exam.
The list of topics covered in the QWEL curriculum includes:
• Where Your Water Comes From
• Irrigation Systems
• Efficient Irrigation
• Soils
• Plants
• Water Management
• Determining Water Budgets
• Irrigation Scheduling
• Irrigation Controllers
• Valve, Controller and Field Wire Trouble Shooting
• New Technology
• Putting It All Together
Upcoming Classes:
Calling all local landscape professionals! We are providing a *free* Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification course on September 20-22, 2022 for local professionals. QWEL is an EPA WaterSense labeled Professional Certification Program that provides landscape professionals with hands-on demonstrations and education on water wise landscape and irrigation system design and maintenance, controller programming and operation, and sustainable landscaping. QWEL graduates are certified to perform 3rd party irrigation system audits as specified by Aspen’s water efficient landscaping standards. QWEL pros are listed for hire on the EPA WaterSense, QWEL, and City of Aspen websites.
Interested in Attending:
This class is for landscape professionals working in the Roaring Fork Valley. Please contact Victoria Arling (va@waternow.org) if you would like to attend and do not live and work in the Aspen area.
More information will be provided to attendees after registering.
Space is limited and participants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis! Click Here to Sign-Up
Presenter: Brandi Rice, Jason Naughtin & Chris Stebe with Norris Design Keith Schweiger with CalSense
When: September 20 – 22, 2022| 9am – 5pm
Where: Aspen City Hall, 427 Rio Grande Pl. Aspen, CO
Learn More & Register: https://www.qwel.net/pub/class/330
Questions?
Victoria Arling| va@waternow.org, 303-586-1770
Rob Gregor| robert.gregor@aspen.gov, 970-429-1993
City of Aspen Classes:
The City of Aspen will host its 4th QWEL Training in Fall 2022. Please check back for training dates or Click Here to Sign-Up to receive notifications about upcoming QWEL trainings.
Landscape professionals may also elect to participate in QWEL trainings offered by other professional certifying organizations in - and outside of - Colorado. You can view the full QWEL training calendar here. If you receive your certification from a different QWEL PCO, please contact Lee Ledesma to be added to the Certified Auditors webpage and to receive valuable Aspen-specific QWEL training materials.
Past Classes:
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Training Course
November 16th - 20th, 2020, 8am - 4pm
Online
May 20th - 22nd, 2019, 9am -5pm
Aspen Police Department, 540 East Main Street, Aspen, CO 81611 in the Community Meeting Room (2nd Floor)
July 9th – 11th, 2018 | 9am – 5pm
18 Truscott Place, Aspen, CO 81611
Read highlights from Aspen’s first QWEL Training here.
QWEL professionals receive quarterly newsletters with program updates, Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities, and other relevant water efficient landscaping information. Past newsletters are archived below:
June 2019 September 2019 December 2019
April 2022 July 2022 December 2022
The City of Aspen’s QWEL Program is made possible with the support of the following organizations:
WaterNow Alliance is a network of local water decision-makers across the county who want to advance sustainable, affordable, climate resilient water solutions in their communities. WaterNow has been a QWEL Professional Certifying Organization since 2015 and provides support to the City of Aspen in developing and maintaining their QWEL program.
Roaring Fork Conservancy is one of the largest watershed organizations in Colorado and serves residents and visitors throughout the Roaring Fork Valley through school and community-based Watershed Education programs and Watershed Action Projects. The organization provides outreach support and guest instruction for the QWEL program.
Element Water Consulting is a water resources engineering and hydrological consulting firm that supports the development and management of the QWEL program.
Hunter Industries has provided in-kind donations and guest instruction.
Rachio has provided in-kind donations and guest instruction.
Are you interested in renovating an existing landscape or creating a new yard?
Trained in water-wise landscape practices including soil selection, irrigation system design and water management, a QWEL professional will help meet your landscape needs while keeping your outdoor water use in check. QWEL professionals are third party Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors and will assist homeowners, developers, and design professionals in meeting the irrigation audit requirements of Aspen’s Landscape Ordinance.
Note: Some individuals who earned a QWEL certificate may not appear on this list due to their publication selection.