Outdoor
SoCal Water$mart Rebates
Businesses, public agencies and institutions have a special opportunity to enhance our region’s WaterSmart culture. Adopting water-efficient practices indoors and outdoors can help your bottom line and demonstrate your dedication to the wise use of natural resources. The San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies offer numerous programs to help achieve outdoor water savings through on-site irrigation evaluations, a large landscape conversion assistance program and landscaper training.
Available rebates for irrigation devices include:
- Smart irrigation or central computer irrigation controllers
- Soil moisture sensor systems
- Large rotary nozzles
- Rotating nozzles for pop-up spray heads
Visit SoCal Water$mart before purchasing a device to request a rebate. Program funding is limited.
Agricultural Water Management Program
The Agricultural Water Management Program provides services and incentives for agricultural customers in the SDCWA service area. For more details or to schedule a site evaluation, call Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332.
Irrigation System Evaluations – These free on-site evaluations are available for agricultural properties with at least one acre of irrigated crops or trees. Emission uniformity and pressure readings are determined for each system and recommendations are provided along with crop data and technical information about the types of irrigation equipment in use.
Soil Moisture Sensor System Cost-Share Program – This program assists growers with the adoption of advanced irrigation water management practices using soil moisture sensors. Reimbursement for the purchase price of soil moisture sensor system is available up to a maximum of $5,000 per property.
Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency Program – The Ag IEP provides farmers with technical assistance and cost-sharing as reimbursement for recommended irrigation system equipment retrofits that improve distribution uniformity and efficiency. Program participants will receive a detailed report which provides current irrigation system efficiency levels and recommends improvements that integrate the use of efficient irrigation technology, components and irrigation scheduling practices. Growers will receive an itemized list of suggested components and reimbursement up to $550 per acre or $5,000 per property.
Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency Program
The Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency Program offers opportunities to local farmers to improve on-farm irrigation system efficiencies. The intent of the program is to provide farmers with technical assistance and cost-sharing as reimbursement for recommended irrigation system equipment retrofits that improve distribution uniformity and efficiency. Program participants will receive a detailed report which provides current irrigation system efficiency levels and recommends improvements that integrate the use of efficient irrigation technology, components and irrigation scheduling practices. Growers will receive an itemized list of suggested components and a 50% cost share estimate. Growers will receive an itemized list of suggested components and reimbursement up to $550 per acre or $5,000 per property.
For more details or to schedule a site evaluation, call the Mission Resource Conservation District at (760) 728-1332.
Soil Moisture Sensor System Rebates
A soil moisture sensor measures soil moisture content in the active root zone on your property. SoCal Water$mart eligible soil moisture sensor systems must include a sensor and a calibrator (these are typically packaged together in the same device) and an irrigation controller. Rebates start at $80 or $35 per irrigation sensor for large residential sites. Visit SoCal Water$mart for more information.
In addition, the Soil Moisture Sensor System Cost-Share Program provides incentives for agricultural properties with at least one acre of irrigated crops or trees. This program assists growers with the adoption of advanced irrigation water management practices using soil moisture sensors. Reimbursement for the purchase price of soil moisture sensor system is available up to a maximum of $5,000 per property. Contact Mission Resource Conservation District for more information.
On-Site Irrigation Audit
A certified landscape irrigation auditor will survey and provide written site-specific water-saving recommendations for qualifying non-residential properties within the Water Authority’s service area at no cost. Eligible landscapes include commercial and industrial sites, homeowner association common areas, and institutional sites like schools, parks and government facilities.
- Apply at watersmartcheckup.org
- Schedule a site walk-through for approved applicants.
- Receive observations, recommendations, and if applicable, test results.
- Choose what you will do and when. There’s no obligation.
- Start saving! Although water-savings vary by property, you may save up to 20% and some sites may even save more.
WaterSmart Contractor Incentive Program
The WaterSmart Contractor Incentive Program (WSCIP) is a large landscape and technology-focused program, which targets qualified landscape contractors and self-managed sites. The San Diego County Water Authority’s (SDCWA) mission is to improve water-use efficiency in large landscapes by retrofitting irrigation devices.
What is WSCIP?
WSCIP offers four incentivized water-efficient devices, that when installed in combination, are among the irrigation industry’s best management practices.
Enrollment is a paperless process. To participate, create an account to enroll and verify your qualifications. This pilot program is available for a limited time and on a first-come-first-served basis.
General program requirements and the qualifying irrigation devices and their respective rebate amounts are available at www.sdwatersmartcip.com.
On-Site Retrofit Program
The Metropolitan Water District’s On-Site Retrofit Program provides financial incentives directly to public or private property owners to convert potable water irrigation or industrial water systems to recycled water service. Incentives of up to $195 per acre-foot for two years of estimated water use are available, with a cap at the actual retrofit costs. Items eligible for incentives include project design; permitting; construction costs associated with the retrofit of potable to recycled water systems; connection fees and required recycled water signage.
The Program works on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be accepted from July 1, 2016 to September 1, 2017 or until funding is exhausted, whichever is earlier. Multiple site projects require separate applications.
Once an application is reviewed and approved, applicants will receive an estimated incentive amount in a confirmation e-mail along with a list of deadlines that must be met to qualify for funding. Incentive payments are made when all invoices and eligible costs are verified, and the connection and use of recycled water becomes operational.
If a project is disqualified, applicants may re-apply as long as the project is not under construction.
For more information, go to bewaterwise.com.
Water Savings Incentive Program
This program is open to commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural and large-landscape customers with qualifying projects in the Water Authority’s service area. It provides financial incentives to non-residential customers for customized water-efficiency projects including:
- Installation of commercial or industrial high-efficiency equipment
- Industrial process improvements
- Agricultural and landscape water-efficiency improvements
- Water management services
Visit the SoCal Water$mart Commercial Water Savings Incentive Program page for more information.
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Training
The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper program is an affordable, local training providing landscape professionals with 20 hours of education on principles of proper plant selection for the local climate, irrigation system design and maintenance, and irrigation system programming and operation.
Indoor
SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program
The SoCal Water$mart Program provides commercial, industrial and institutional customers with rebates for replacing select older, inefficient devices used by businesses. Upgrades not only save water, but also reduce wastewater and energy use. Program funding is limited.
Available rebates include:
- premium high efficiency toilets
- ultra-low and zero water urinals
- plumbing control valves
- food steamers
- ice machines
- cooling tower conductivity and pH controllers
- medical and dental equipment
Visit SoCal Water$mart before purchasing a device to request a rebate.
Water Savings Incentive Program
This program is open to commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural and large-landscape customers with qualifying projects in the Water Authority’s service area. It provides financial incentives to non-residential customers for customized water-efficiency projects including:
- Installation of commercial or industrial high-efficiency equipment
- Industrial process improvements
- Agricultural and landscape water-efficiency improvements
- Water management services
Visit the SoCal Water$mart Commercial Water Savings Incentive Program page for more information.
