Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate (click here)

Businesses account for about one-third of the water used in our community. Some businesses use water only for sanitary purposes, while others copiously irrigate to maintain attractive landscapes. Many companies use large amounts of water in different

ways to develop products and to provide services.

The true cost of water use extends far beyond the price of the water alone. For restaurants, food processors, semi-conductor manufacturers, hospitals, breweries, office buildings and schools, there are added expenses involved in using water. These extra costs can include energy, chemicals, wastewater discharge, toxic disposal, and even air quality treatment requirements.

Reducing water use in commercial, business and industrial settings not only conserves a precious resource; it saves money. And that's good for the bottom line.

Businesses are eligible for a variety of rebates and incentives, including rebates for water-efficient commercial washing machines, high efficient toilets and urinals and commercial landscape irrigation components such as controllers and soil moisture sensors. Trained technicians will come to your business to check for leaks, provide customized water-use tips and evaluate your outdoor water use.

This program is designed to encourage businesses and government facilities in the region to re-think their business practices in order to reduce their impact on the environment. There are five categories that are available for implementation: water efficiency, energy conservation, pollution prevention, solid waste reduction and green building.

When you implement measures and practices for one or more category you will receive a certificate and a window placard to display your environmentally friendly business practices. Contact Sacramento County's Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC) for more information.

Lots of customers and employees can mean lots of flushes. Switching to ultra-low flush (ULFT) or high efficient toilets (HET) can make a big difference for many businesses such as restaurants and bars, warehouse / distribution centers, office buildings and meeting centers. Pre-1992 toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush, while new ultra-low flush toilets (ULFT) use 1.6 gallons per flush or choose a high efficient toilet (HET) which uses 1.28 gallons per flush or less.

• The location of the installation must be served by one of the water providers listed.
• The toilet to be replaced must have been installed prior to 1994.
• Purchase of material must occur within the program period of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Rebates are first-come, first-served and end when funds are exhausted or water provider or SRCSD program or Department of Water Resources (DWR) grant funding ends.
• Residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family applicants are eligible.
• The water agencies or their representatives are required to send IRS form 1099 to the customer and the IRS when rebates total $600 or more.
• Replacement of existing 3.0 gpf or greater urinals with non-flushing (NFU) and/or low flush (LFU) 0.5 gpf or less and be labeled as UPC approved qualify for rebates.
• Replacement of existing urinals between 1.0 gpf and 3.0 gpf may be eligible if being replaced by a non-flushing urinal.
• Replacement of one ULFT with another ULFT is not eligible for rebate under this program.
• Replacement of one ULFT with a HET is based on a case by case basis and is determined by the water provider for your area.
• New construction is not eligible under this program.