For decades, cities in Arizona have offered water-saving rebates to encourage residents and businesses to use less water. Incentives range from partial reimbursement of purchase and labor costs to free water-saving retrofits.
Common-sense home upgrades, such as installing more efficient faucets, shower heads and low-flush toilets, can go a long way in reducing water consumption and residents’ monthly water bills, experts say. It says. Compared to pre-1995 faucets, modern appliances can use 40% to 60% less water. Newer toilets run on 1-1.6 gallons per flush, while older models require 5 gallons per flush.
The rebate program for residential water users is primarily focused in the Phoenix area. Program terms and offers vary greatly by city. Some have up to 9 different rebates, some just 1.
The most common is the incentive to reduce outdoor water usage, where taking the right steps will result in the greatest savings for large users. More than half of homes in the Phoenix metropolitan area have lawns, and outdoor irrigation can account for up to 70% of a household’s monthly water use. Many cities are paying residents to remove the grass and install xeriscapes or low-water-use gardens in its place.
Flagstaff, Prescott and Tucson offer rebates for rainwater harvesting tanks and barrels that also reduce city water usage and customers’ water bills.
What cities have rebates?
At least 10 cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area offer some type of water-saving rebate. Bullhead City, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sierra Vista and Tucson are also offering rebates to water customers.
Many cities do not offer rebates, but plan free water audits and consultations to help residents identify savings opportunities.
There are no rebates at Phoenix. The city claims it achieved its water conservation goals through “good management practices” and efforts by customers to conserve water. His average daily consumption per capita for Phoenix is ​​about 115 gallons. The national and Tucson averages are approximately 80 gallons.
Residents outside city service areas may also be eligible for rebates and free water saving kits.
EPCOR, Arizona’s largest private water company, is offering its customers free low-flow bathroom aerators, kitchen aerators, showerheads, and outdoor hose nozzles. Since 2012, EPCOR has reached 12,400 free preservation kit. This utility provides over 169,000 connections throughout Arizona.
Liberty Utilities also provides free water saving devices and water saving kits to residential and commercial customers, as well as free landscape irrigation audits and workshops. The kit includes both indoor and outdoor devices and can be ordered at company website.
environmental protection agency rebate finder We also provide a list of all WaterSense partners offering rebates across the United States
Which is the most popular?
Water-saving toilet rebates are often the most requested.
Lawn removal is the most expensive of the water-saving rebates and provides the highest water savings for both the customer and the city paying the rebate. In Prescott, the city estimates that removing turf saves about 1.3 million gallons a year and replacing toilets saves about 600,000 gallons.
Rebate terms and refund amounts vary, but generally the area must be converted to a low water use garden. In Tempe and Peoria, tree bait.
The Scottsdale newspaper said there was “unusual participation” in the turf rebate. City website. Residents are encouraged to submit their applications early as most programs have a limited budget and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Some cities offer special lawn removal rebates to commercial water users and homeowners groups.
Rainwater collection systems do not allow for significant water savings, but provide a new water supply for demanding outdoor irrigation.
Only three cities offer rainwater harvesting rebates. The City of Tucson caps rebate amounts based on the storage capacity of the system, with a maximum rebate of $2,000 for active harvesting systems and $500 for rain gardens and home garden dugout catchments. increase. Flagstaff will provide $100 for the installation of tanks with a capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, and a free 55-gallon barrel for residents participating in rainwater harvesting workshops. Prescott also offers rebates based on rainwater tank capacity and surface of rainwater gardens constructed. Both have a limit of $500.
In most cities, the number of rebate applicants has not increased dramatically in years. All in all, it’s a spike over time, but it’s sustained.
“We speculate that many of the interested property owners who used the old toilets are already taking advantage of the program,” said Adam Curtis, spokesman for Sierra Vista.
The city has offered rebates for water-saving toilets since 2001. From 2013 to 2017, it expanded its business with the Cochise Water Project, but took a two-year hiatus after the nonprofit that received the grant closed the business. The city he revived the facility in 2019 and continues to maintain it with funds from the Sewerage and Sanitation Budget.
To date, the program has replaced approximately 7,400 toilets, saving an estimated 65 million gallons of water annually, Curtis said.
Cochise County also offers toilet rebates for everyone county citizen.
Expansion of water supply facilities:It’s free, you can drink it. Why aren’t more Arizonans harvesting rainwater during droughts?
What are the key issues to consider?
Committing public resources to long-term water conservation measures can have significant benefits for urban water supplies. Critics, however, argue that the rebate program is only available to customers who can afford the up-front costs of often expensive new appliances and home upgrades. California lawn removal rebates have been criticized for several reasons:Providing subsidies For those who do not need subsidies. “
While everyone can benefit from installing water-efficient appliances in their homes to reduce water usage and monthly bills, there are barriers that prevent many from having access to it. , suggests one. Recent analysis By the Pacific Institute, a water think tank. Opportunities exist to make programs accessible to low-income households. The authors say solutions include offering coupons for high-efficiency home appliance purchases, device giveaways and direct install his programs, and multi-family dwelling programs.
Some Arizona cities are starting to offer home upgrades and mortgages. free water saver For low income homeowners.
Another potential drawback is taxes. Although rebates are refunds, not income, payments over $600 are considered taxable income by the IRS, and each city requires rebate applicants to complete her W-9 form. This can discourage potential applicants.
Some cities offer rebates by reducing the total amount paid on a customer’s bill. For larger rebates, many offer checks.
Water-related groups such as the Arizona City Water Users Association advocate exempting water-saving rebates from taxes.
How to find more information about programs in your city
Avondale: lawn to xeriscape conversion, low flow plumbing (toilet and shower head), automatic irrigation controller, high efficiency clothes washing machine.
Buckeye: Lawn to xeriscape conversion, automatic irrigation controller.
bullhead city: lawn to xeriscape conversion, automatic irrigation controller, high efficiency toilet and washing machine, on-demand hot water system, water softener.
chandler: lawn to xeriscape conversion, automatic irrigation controller, water saving retrofit kit.
FlagstaffFrom lawns to low-water-use landscapes, high-efficiency toilets, high-efficiency aerators and showerheads, and rainwater collection tanks.
Gilbert: Automatic irrigation controller.
glendale: conversion from turf to xeriscape.
Mesa: conversion from turf to xeriscape.
Peoria: lawn to xeriscape conversion, automatic irrigation controllers, efficient toilets, tree planting incentives.
Prescott: lawns to low water use landscapes, automatic irrigation controllers, high efficiency toilets and washing machines, commercial urinals, hot water circulation, rainwater tanks, rain gardens.
Scottsdale: lawn to xeriscape conversion, automatic irrigation controller, water softener removal, pool/spa removal, smart home monitor.
Sierra Vista: High efficiency toilet.
surprise: xeriscape installation in new home, automatic irrigation controller.
Tempe: lawn to xeriscape conversion, automatic irrigation controller, high efficiency toilets, gray water recycling system, TreeBate.
Tucson: High-efficiency toilets and washing machines, rainwater collection rebates, gray water recycling systems, water saving kits.
Clara Migoya covers environmental issues for the Republic of Arizona and As Central.Send your tips and questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com.
Environmental reporting at azcentral.com and in the Republic of Arizona is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic Environmental Reporting Team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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