The City of Plymouth is offering a new rebate program to residential and commercial property owners who complete water efficiency improvement projects.

Funded by a grant from the Metropolitan Council, the rebate program was established to encourage water conservation in Plymouth and reduce the demand on the municipal water supply.

Rebates will be given for replacing old, inefficient toilets, washing machines and irrigation controllers. All property owners who are customers of the municipal water supply could be eligible.

“Water usage in Plymouth is three times higher during the summer than in the winter, largely because of lawn watering,” said Plymouth Senior Engineering Technician Ben Scharenbroich. “This program encourages property owners to install water-saving devices, such as irrigation controllers equipped with rain sensors.” City staff hopes the rebate program will help save 3 million gallons of water per year.

Property owners interested in replacing existing outdated or inefficient appliances should look for the Energy Star or WaterSense certification from the Environmental Protection Agency. Rebates can reimburse property owners for 75 percent of the cost of the device – up to a maximum of $50 for WaterSense toilets, $100 for Energy Star washing machines and $200 for WaterSense irrigation controllers, rain sensors or irrigation system audits by a certified professional that results in equipment replacement.

Rebate funds are limited and will be issued to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Rebates will be issued upon completion of work and submission of payment request accompanied by original receipts for expenses. The deadline to submit a rebate application is June 30, 2017.

Simple Steps Toward Water Conservation
Saving water doesn’t always require new appliances – it’s accomplished by making simple changes that conserve water everyday. It not only helps ensure reliable water supplies in the future, but can save money.

To help conserve water, residents are encouraged to follow these simple tips:

• Follow designated lawn watering days: plymouthmn.gov/watering
• Minimize excessive water use on lawns by setting timers 
• Water lawns early in the day 
• Utilize a rain barrel 
• Check for indoor leaks, even slow dripping, in sinks, showerheads and toilets 
• Turn off water while brushing teeth to save about 3 gallons per day 
• Scrape dishes, rather than rinsing, when possible

For more information or to obtain an application, visit plymouthmn.gov/waterefficiencyrebate.