Plunge Into Water Conservation And Save!

 

Water conservation should be a way of life, and practicing water-saving habits is something we can all do. But there are water-saving devices we can use as well. Before June 30, 2014, the SoCal Water$mart Program is offering a number of rebates for water-efficient purchases for your home, indoors and out. By taking advantage of these rebates, you can do your part to conserve water while save money on your water and energy bills.

Indoor High –Efficiency Devices

Together, toilets and clothes washers account for approximately 45 percent of the water used inside your home. Imagine how much water you can save when using high-efficiency toilets and clothes washers! Combine this with SoCal Water$mart rebates and high efficiency can pay for itself.

High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs)

The largest amount of water used inside your home, about 30 percent, goes toward flushing the toilet. Saving water inside your home should begin here because the amount of water needed to flush properly is much less than you may think. High-efficiency toilets use 20 percent less water than standard toilets, which means you can save over 8,000 gallons of water in just one year and over $800 on your water bill over the lifetime of the product! Rebates start at $50 per toilet and can be submitted online here. Click here for a list of qualifying models.

High-Efficiency Clothes Washers

Your clothes washer is the second largest water user in your home. High-efficiency clothes washers use 55 percent less water than standard ones, saving you 14 gallons of water a day and 75,000 gallons over the washer’s lifetime. You can save more than $400 in water over the lifetime of your appliance. And less water means less energy needed for water heating, lowering your energy bill too.

Rebates start at $85 (for washers purchased on or after June 1, 2012). For a list of qualifying high-efficiency clothes washers, click here.

Outdoor Water-Saving Devices

Up to 70 percent of California's entire residential water supply is used for home landscapes, yet many residents overwater their landscapes due to the type of sprinkler controllers and nozzles they use. Here are smart ways to water your landscape.

Customized, Smart Watering

Weather-based irrigation controllers (WBICs) automatically adjust your landscape water schedule to account for changing weather and plant types. Not only will this save you from overwatering your landscape by 13,500 gallons a year, it will save over $700 on your water bill over its lifetime. Plus your plants will be healthier and happier! Combine this with the SoCal Water$mart rebate and watch how much you can save over time. Rebates start at $80 per controller for less than one acre of landscape, $25 per station for more than one acre of landscape. Click here for the list of qualifying WBICs.

Rotating Sprinkler Nozzles

Using SoCal Water$mart-recommended rotating nozzles will eliminate wasteful runoff by applying more precise, even watering to your landscape. A slower and more uniform distribution of water encourages healthy plant growth and save you 20 percent less water than using conventional spray heads. Rebates start at $4/nozzle when purchasing a minimum quantity of 15 nozzles. Click here for the list of qualifying sprinkler nozzles.

Rain Barrels

Another way to cut down your water bill is by collecting and reusing rainwater from your home’s gutters and downspouts for your lawn and garden. Your plants prefer rainwater because it is free of chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. Using rain barrels also minimizes the amount of water flowing into your storm drains, sewer systems, and local waterways. Rebates start at $75 per barrel. Be sure the barrel you purchase qualifies for the rebate by reading these specifications and guidelines.

 

More Rebate Programs and Conservation Links

 

*Please note that funding is limited, and submission of a rebate application does not guarantee that you will receive a rebate. Rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted.