Saving Water, Earning Rebates

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” This month we have a guest, Kay Sydow, the water resource project manager for the City of Prescott. So keep reading, because we are going to talk water.

Sandy: Welcome to our column, Kay. Tom and I are thrilled you are joining us and we are excited to talk about water.

Kay: Thank you for the invite, Tom and Sandy, and yes, we are going to talk about water and more specifically, about the city’s Water Conservation Incentive Program.

Sandy: Kay, this is the program where the city will rebate Prescott homeowners for using certain water conservation fixtures, right?

Kay: That is correct, though we go beyond fixtures. We also include hot water recirculating systems, turf removal, irrigation timers, collecting rainwater in rain barrels and something called ‘passive rain gardens.’

Tom: That is quite a lot of product management for water rebates – all about saving water.

Sandy: Let’s take these one at a time and give our readers the list and how this all works.

Kay: The rebates are all given as a credit on an active utility bill from the city. Starting with fixtures, by replacing your toilet with a low-flow toilet, a homeowner could receive between $100 and $150 credit.

Sandy: Kay, would that be determined by the water usage of the new toilet?

Kay: Yes, $100 for a 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf), or $125 for a dual flush toilet with 1.0/1.28 gpf, and $150 for a 1.0 gpf. And there is no limit on the number of toilets per household for which a homeowner can receive a rebate.

Tom: Wow, that dang near pays for the toilet. What are some of the other fixtures you include?

Kay: We include washing machines. I came upon a statistic that an average family of four does 364 loads of laundry per year.

Sandy: My mom was right, she always said she was doing laundry all the time!

Kay: LOL, if she used an ultra-efficient washer, she could save up to 4,100 gallons of water per year and receive a $200 credit on her water bill.

Tom: That makes a difference when applied citywide for sure. Is there a preferred purchase list?

Kay: Yes, the washer must be on the Consortium for Energy Efficiency list.

Sandy: I heard that if a homeowner is on a septic system, that will get them an additional $50 credit.

Kay: Sandy, you did your homework.

Sandy: Thanks, Kay. Tell our readers about the recirculating system rebate – that is the coolest.

Kay: If you install a recirculating hot water delivery system, the city offers a $150 rebate.

Tom: What sort of proof do you require? Do you send out inspectors?

Kay: No inspection required. We ask only for receipts and photos of the installed system.

Sandy: Kay, you mentioned some of the outdoor water use projects. Can you give us some insights on how our readers might be able to participate?

Kay: Sure! Outdoor water use accounts for most of the exterior usage. And, unlike indoor water use that sends wastewater through the sewer system for treatment, outdoor use will not be recovered; it is gone forever.

Having said that, projects that remove turf and replace that turf with non-water consuming ground covers helps quite a bit. By taking out the grass and replacing it with low-water plants or a passive rain garden you will save quite a lot of water.

Tom: How do you calculate the rebate for this and what proof do you need to get?

Kay: This is one project that you need to contact the Public Works Department before you begin. The city will rebate $1 for every square foot of turf removed.

Sandy: Isn’t there a rebate for installing a timer on your irrigation system?

Kay: Yes, there is. Having a timer not only eliminates overwatering, but it also allows you to maintain a watering schedule so as to only water during those times of the day that reduce evaporation.

Sandy: What is the rebate for this irrigation timer?

Kay: A $75 rebate is available for the installation of an EPA approved WaterSense labelled Smart Irrigation Timer. Again, you will need to contact Public Works before starting the project.

Tom: Please tell us what a Passive Rain Garden is. This is new to me.

Kay: Generally, this is a method of capturing rainwater by constructing an artificial depression in your yard that captures rainwater and stores it long enough to infiltrate the soil.

Sandy: If you use plants in this rain garden, do they need to be on the city’s approved plant list?

Kay: Yes, they do. Only native and drought tolerant plants may be installed in the rain garden, and we do encourage those types of plantings. The catchment can also be lined with rocks as well.

Sandy: As with the turf removal, I would presume people interested in the rain garden rebate should contact the City of Prescott Public Works Department before commencing.

Kay: Absolutely. Rain Gardens, a How-to Manual for Homeowners has recently been updated. It gives step-by-step instructions on how to install a rain garden.

Tom: Very interesting. Is there a minimum size and what is the rebate for this type of project?

Kay: The rain garden must be a minimum garden of 50 square feet in size and capture a minimum of 400 square feet of storm water redirected from the roof.  The city offers a rebate of $3.00 per square foot of basin footprint.

Sandy: There are incentives for rainwater catchment as well. How do they work?

Kay: Rain barrels and cisterns are a great way to save water. This is where rainwater, typically from the roof, is collected and stored for later use. The minimum amount of 100 gallons is needed to qualify. A 75-gallon or larger capacity storage can get a rebate of $1 per gallon, while a 50-to-65-gallon capacity can receive a $0.50-per-gallon rebate.

Tom: Can you combine smaller tanks to achieve the 100 gallon minimum?

Kay: Yes, you can.

Sandy: Kay, that is great information for our readers and us as well. Now give us all the contact info and links we need to get serious about saving.

Kay: All programs come out of the City of Prescott Public Works Department. For more information, call 928-777-1130. The link to our website is www.prescott-az.gov/water-sewer/water-conservation/rebate-program.

Thank you, Sandy and Tom, for inviting me to participate in your column. This is a great way to let people know about this program. QCBN

Tom Reilly, LEED Accredited Professional, Architect.

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040

Remember to tune in to YCCA’s Hammer Time every Saturday and Sunday morning 7:00 am on KQNA 1130 am/99.9 fm/95/5fm or the web kqna.com. Listen to Sandy and her wingman Mike talk about the construction industry and meet your local community partners. Hammer Time is a great way to start your weekend.