Rebates to Save Water and Protect Our Aquifer

The Port Washington Water District (PWWD) has launched a rebate program to incentivize customers to adopt the use of smart irrigation system controllers. The program is part of PWWD’s Be Smart and Green, Save 15 water conservation campaign, during which the District will give rebates of $150 to qualifying applicants who are among the District’s largest water users. The rebates available to those who use this water-saving technology are one of the many steps the District is taking to reduce water consumption by 15 percent and protect Long Island’s sole-source aquifer from the dangers of saltwater contamination.

“The increased adoption of smart irrigation system controllers will have a drastic impact on overall water consumption and will help us protect our sole-source aquifer and reach our 15 percent conservation goal,” said PWWD Commissioner Peter Meyer. “This rebate program’s targeted approach will provide us with the most bang for our buck and gives us the greatest opportunity to significantly impact the District’s overall water consumption and better protect ourselves against saltwater contamination.”

The District has appropriated $5,250 to fund 35 rebates for qualified residential users who replace their existing irrigation timer with a smart irrigation system controller. Smart irrigation controller systems are an effective tool for reducing landscape water use. They are designed specifically to optimize water usage, prevent over-watering, and keep lawns and garden green and healthy. These systems use information such as local weather conditions, plant type and soil moisture levels to determine accurate landscaping water needs. They also automatically adjust watering schedules based on these criteria, allowing lawn and gardens to thrive under optimal watering conditions without the homeowner having to manually adjust the controller.

“We are very excited to launch this rebate program because we know this technology works and wider adoption of it will go a long way for our conservation goals and protecting our only water source,” said PWWD Commissioner Mindy Germain. “Last year, we piloted an EPA WaterSense labelled smart irrigation system controller at our headquarters and reduced our water consumption from the previous year by 58 percent. Not to say we expect to see this level of savings from each system, but we do expect the installation of these 35 systems to help us make great strides toward reaching our 15 percent reduction goals.”

In 2016, the PWWD’s top 20 residential customers consumed 14.8 million gallons of water. With the implementation of a smart irrigation controller system at each of these properties, a conservative estimate of a 20 percent reduction would save more than three million gallons of water.

Last year when the PWWD piloted a smart irrigation system controller at its headquarters, it used 52,000 less gallons of water than it did the previous year with a standard irrigation timer. Typically, the use of a smart irrigation system controller allows the average residential user to see a reduction in water use by approximately 30 percent and a savings of $100 in their water bill over the course of the irrigation season.

“A new smart irrigation system controller, on average, costs about $250,” said David Brackett, Chairman of the PWWD Board of Commissioners. “With a $150 rebate from the District and an estimated $100 in savings on you water bill due to the decrease in water usage, the system will have paid for itself within the first year. We really hope our customers take advantage of this program immediately and see for themselves how effective this technology can be.”

In order to qualify for the rebate program, the applicant must be a PWWD customer and the property owner of the installation site with a fully functioning irrigation system compatible with an EPA water sense labelled smart irrigation controller. The system must also be installed and programmed per the manufacturer’s directions, as well as contain a rain sensor—unless the controller model installed includes an onsite weather component.

Rebates will be issued to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis and offered while funding is available. Other terms and conditions apply. For more information about how to apply for the smart irrigation system controller rebate program, please contact the PWWD at 516.767.0171 or visit the District’s website at www.pwwd.org.

The Port Washington Water District was established in 1913 and serves more than 30,000 residents of North Hempstead, including Port Washington and the villages of Port Washington North, Manorhaven, Baxter Estates, Flower Hill and Plandome Manor.

WaterSense is a partnership program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products. These products have played a crucial role in reducing a cumulative 1.5 trillion gallons of water, and $32.6 billion in water and energy bills since its inception in 2006. The PWWD is a promotional partner in the EPA’s WaterSense program.