A years-long drought, coupled with a rapidly increasing population, is stretching water supplies across the region. Watering restrictions are in place, and plans to expand water sources are being considered. However, conservation is still a key to saving money on utility bills and saving us all from investing in new sources of water.
Retrofitting aging toilets and out-of-date irrigation controllers are helping Tampa Bay residents conserve more than 300,000 gallons of water daily, according to Tampa Bay Water, which supplies potable water for about .2.5 million people in the region. Nearly four years into Tampa Bay Water Wise,the utility’s most aggressive conservation campaign ever, more than 5,000 rebates ranging from $100 to tens of thousands have been issued, and multi-family participants in the Water Wise Rebate Program are saving up to 70% of their water bills.
Savings of 50% to 70% with new toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators in apartment buildings surprised even water managers, said Amelia Brown, Tampa Bay Water’s demand management program manager. “We think what’s happening is that some of those older toilets that are rated for 1.6 gallons per flush were actually using two or three gallons per flush and probably leaking much more than that,” she said. “Apartment residents don’t typically pay their own water bills, so they’re less likely to repair a leak.”
Similar savings are less likely, but still possible for an average homeowner with aging fixtures, she adds. Homeowners can tell how much water their toilets use by checking the date of manufacture printed inside the toilet tank. Toilets manufactured before 1983 use five to seven gallons per flush; from 1983 to 1994, they used no more than 3.5 gallons. New WaterSense labeled toilets that qualify for rebates of $100 each only use 1.28 gallons
Brown estimates that there are about 258,000 pre-1994 toilets – or about 20% of all the toilets in the region – still in use that are eligible for the $100 rebate. Replacing toilets manufactured after 1993 allows homeowners a $40 rebate for installing a new WaterSense toilet.
And while showerheads and faucet aerators aren’t eligible as rebates for homeowners, the savings on these inexpensive devices can add up quickly. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, showers account for 20% of the average family’s water usage, but the new WaterSense fixtures can reduce that usage – and showerheads rated as equal or better than conventional showerheads retail for about $40. Faucet aerators that mix air with water as it passes through the fixture are even less expensive and can save the average family about 700 gallons per year.
As the Tampa Bay region heads into the dry season after one of the driest rainy seasons on record last summer, conserving outside water will be even more important. Even with once-a-week watering restrictions, homeowners can save money and water with “smart” irrigation controllers and shallow wells used for irrigation. “The average homeowner’s water bill is about 50% irrigation, but the new smart irrigation controllers typically can save 30% of that irrigation water used,” Brown said.
Rather than turning on at 4 a.m. every Tuesday morning – whether the landscape needs water or not – smart controllers check rain, temperatures, humidity and even wind speed, then decide what needs water on a zone-by-zone basis so that each zone gets exactly what they need.
Homeowners must prequalify for the devices based on water bills that indicate a benefit, and their irrigation system must be fully functional and without leaks. Eligible homeowners can request that the controller be installed by a trained professional through the Tampa Bay Water Wise program. Someone who decides to select their own device, and meets the initial requirements, may be eligible for up to a $250 rebate covering the device and its professional installation.
Although the Water Wise program is the first regional conservation initiative offering rebates to both homeowners and multi-family property owners, many local governments have had their own rebate programs for years, Brown said. “Over the past two decades, conservation efforts along with increased use of reclaimed water have resulted in water use dropping from 160 gallons per person per day to 102 gallons per person per day”
Water conservation rebates available to different property owners through the Tampa Bay Water Wise program include:
Homeowner Rebates
- High-efficiency toilet retrofits for homeowners – $40 – $100
- Smart irrigation controllers – Free or up to $250
- Shallow wells for outdoor irrigation – up to $1,000
Multi-Family Owner & Hotel Rebates
- Toilets – $40 – $75
- Showerheads $15
- Faucet aerators $5
Business And Buildings Rebates
- Customizable rebate – up to $40,000
- Cooling towers – up to $10,000
- Commercial dishwasher – $400
- Pre-rinse spray valves – $50
- Toilets and Urinals – $75
- Florida Water Star certification – $1,000
To learn more about current rebates and your eligibility, visit the Tampa Bay Water Wise website: https://tampabaywaterwise.org/en/.