Conservation Contacts

• make less waste
• help the environment
• save you money (whether you're metered or not)

• Why replace my old toilet?
• Am I eligible for a rebate to get a new high efficiency clothes washing machine?
• How do I find out about a FREE Water Wise House Call?

Toilets account for more than one-fourth of all indoor water use. Toilets manufactured pre-1992 use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush (gpf) or between 17,000 and 34,000 gallons per year. By replacing your 3.5 gpf or greater toilet with a 1.28 gpf HET toilet a family can save approximately 17,000 gallons per year and know that you've helped to conserve water.

The easiest way to tell is by the age of the toilet. If your toilet was manufactured before 1992, it most likely is not a water efficient model (1.6 gpf or less). If it was manufactured after 1992, it most likely is a water efficient model. Manufacturer dates are usually engraved on the wall of the toilet tank or on the underside of the back inside the tank lid. Another water to determine flush volume is to turn off the valve on the water supply line. Flush the toilet. Use a gallon milk jug to fill the tank up to the fill line and determine the gallons per flush for your toilet.

Do new toilets really work better?

Yes, the vast majority of water efficient models work very well. Many water providers around the state have been doing toilet rebates and have surveyed their customers. One agency in the San Francisco Bay area has received over 4,000 surveys and found that 98% of their customers rated the performance of their new toilets as either excellent or good. Like any product, quality can vary between toilet brands and models, so it is important to shop around. For performance testing of efficient toilets, visit California Urban Water Conservation Council at www.cuwcc.org.

One item to determine is the rough-in distance. Measure the distance from the wall behind the existing toilet to the middle of the toilet drain opening in the floor. This distance is needed to ensure you purchase the correct size toilet.

What else should I look for in a toilet?

• Fully glazed trapway - while not a requirement for a good toilet, it can improve flushing and bowl cleaning performance.
• Generally the larger the diameter of the trapway, the better - larger than 2" is recommended.
• Make sure the product is warranted.

• For toilet rebates click here.
• www.h2ouse.org - a website by the California Urban Water Conservation Council
• For suggestions on high efficiency toilets from the Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense program, click here.
• www.cuwcc.org - High efficiency toilet testing report can be found at California Urban Water Conservation Council's Maximum Performance (MaP) Testing & Uniform North American Requirements (UNAR) .

1. Check that you have an account with an address where the clothes washer is to be installed that matches one of the five participating water service providers. Note the rebate amount varies as listed between $50-100.
   
   • California American Water ($100)
   • Citrus Heights Water District ($50)
   • City of Folsom ($50)
   • City of Sacramento ($50 for Tier 3 clothes washers only)
   • Elk Grove Water Service ($75)
   • Golden State Water Company ($100)
   • Orange Vale Water Company ($75)
   • Rancho Murieta CSD ($75)
   • Sacramento Suburban Water District ($75)
   • San Juan Water District ($100)
   • Sacramento County Water Agency* ($100 for a limited time)
   
   *For customers of Sacramento County Water Agency, please contact (916) 875-1955 for eligibility questions and an application.
   
   Note: For customers of Rio Linda/Elverta Water District, please contact Elizabeth Myers at (916) 991-1000 for their program information.



2. If your water service provider is participating in the Clothes Washer Rebate Pilot Program, then please review the two following documents:
   
   • Program Fact Sheet (using Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher)
   • Rebate Program Application (using Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher)
   • Most Current Qualified Products Listing
   
   Note: You may print this application form and mail to SMUD as directed on the rebate application or obtain a copy of the application in stores where high efficiency clothes washers are sold.



3. For specific questions on eligibility and water service account verifications (copies of past bills), please click here to find the contact information for your water provider's Water Conservation Coordinator.
   
   
4. Please read application form for complete program details. For questions, check the SMUD web site (www.smud.org) or contact SMUD customer service at 1-888-742-SMUD for further details or for the status of your rebate.