Water Conservation Incentive Programs

Community Incentive Programs
Recognizing the benefits of providing incentives to water users to conserve, many large and small communities across North America have implemented programs to encourage the replacement of old, inefficient plumbing fixtures and appliances with modern water-efficient fixtures and appliances. In some cases, communities have even provided incentives for alternatives to conventional lawns. Here are a few examples of indoor water conservation programs: For information on incentive programs to reduce outdoor water use, see Alternative Landscape Incentive Programs.

• Los Angeles, CA: $100 rebate on water-efficient toilets; $150 rebate on water-efficient clothes washers.
• New York City, NY: Up to $240 for water-efficient toilet installation for residential customers and $150 for commercial customers; free low-flow showerheads.
• Orange County, CA: Up to 60,000 free water-efficient toilets per year; free low-flow showerheads.
• Austin, TX: Free water-efficient toilets and $30 towards installation; free low-flow showerheads; $30 to $60 rebates on rain barrels; up to $40,000 for commercial and industrial conservation projects; up to $1,000 per site for landscape irrigation improvements.
• El Paso, TX: Up to $100 rebate on water-efficient toilets; free low-flow showerheads.
• San Diego, CA: $75 rebate on water-efficient toilets for residential customers; free low-flow showerheads; $200 rebate on water-efficient clothes washers.
• San Jose, CA: Free water-efficient toilets for low-income customers; installation of up to three water-efficient toilets for each other residential customer for $50 each; up to $150 incentive for installation of water-efficient toilets by commercial/industrial customers.
• Tempe, AZ: Free low-flow showerheads; $75 rebate on water-efficient toilets.
• Hillsborough County, FL: $125 to $270 incentive for water-efficient toilets (the county reports that this program saves $2 in wholesale water costs for each $1 spent on the incentive program).
• Seattle, WA: $60 to $120 rebate for water-efficient toilets/urinals for industrial and commercial customers.
• Honolulu, HI: $100 rebate for water-efficient toilets.
• Ayr Village, Ontario: $200 incentive for water-efficient toilets.
• Pinellas County, FL: $100 incentive for water-efficient toilets.
• Santa Monica, CA: City installs water-efficient toilets for $25 each, residents lacking water-efficient fixtures receive a surcharge on their water bill.

Alternative Landscape Incentive Programs
Since outdoor water use for landscape irrigation is a major category of water use in many areas, a number of communities have implemented programs providing incentives for landscaping changes that reduce irrigation needs. Here are some examples of programs that have been implemented. Southern Nevada Water Authority: Credit on water bill of $0.40 per square foot of lawn converted to alternative landscape. Maximum credit of $25,000 per year for up to two years. Must convert at least 400 square feet of lawn to participate in the program.

• Tempe, AZ: $100 incentive for conversion of lawn to alternative landscaping.
• Austin, TX: Fifty percent rebate on the cost of low water use replacement plantings, up to $500.
• Albuquerque, NM: Rebate on water bill of $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot of lawn converted to low water use landscape. Maximum credit of $500 for residential customers and $700 for non-residential customers.
• San Antonio, TX: $100 to $500 credit on water bill for landscape conversion.
• Glendale, AZ: $100 for converting half of lawn to non-grass landscaping.