If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution, Department of Utilities staff say that winter is a great time to save money and be more efficient with water by taking advantage of City rebates.
“Now is a great time for people to begin making changes that will help them cut back on how much water they use,” said William Granger, the City’s water conservation coordinator. “Whether you’re thinking about reimagining your yard or repairing leaks, the City has rebates to make it affordable.”
Converting grass to drought-tolerant landscaping
People who want to save the most water can start by replacing grass in their yard with drought-tolerant landscaping.
Eligible customers can get a rebate of up to $3,000 for the conversion and an extra $200 to get creative help from a City-approved landscape designer.
Granger says that winter and spring conditions can be ideal for new plants to establish their roots.
Irrigation upgrades and smart controllers
Customers can get up to $400 in rebates to upgrade their irrigation systems, such as converting to high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles and drip irrigation.
A $400 rebate is also available for certain smart irrigation controllers, which can save the average home up to 15,000 gallons of water each year compared to a standard controller.
“Using a smart irrigation controller is a great way to reduce overwatering and make your watering scheduling more efficient,” said Granger.
Rain barrels
Those looking to capture rainwater from rooftops and store it for later landscaping use can get up to $150 in rebates for a rainbarrel.
Collecting rainwater from your roof also helps reduce stormwater pollution to local streams, lakes, and rivers.
Laundry-to-Landscape systems
A “laundry-to-landscape” system can help homeowners save water by collecting used water from their washing machine and directing it to trees and plants in their yard.
Customers can get a rebate of up to $100.
Money for repairing leaks
Homeowners can also reduce their water bill and get money for finding and fixing leaks.
Eligible customers can be reimbursed up to $500 by the City depending on the size of the leak.
Get help getting started
For people who don’t know where to get started, the Department of Utilities provides several resources.
City customers can call 916-808-5605 or email waterconservation@cityofsacramento.org to schedule an in-person consultation or get free advice from a water conservation specialist.
Landscaping plans and photo galleries of local drought-tolerant gardens are also available to help give people inspiration before starting a grass-conversion project.
“The City is committed to helping everyone do their part when it comes to conserving water,” said Granger. “Give us a call and let us help you get started.”