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Santa Clara Valley Water District

California is facing its second year in a row of a low Sierra snowpack. Additionally, the crisis facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is also impacting the water supply in the Santa Clara Valley and across the state. The Delta delivers water from the Sierra snowpack to about 23 million Californians, but due to court-ordered restrictions on pumping from the Delta, we can’t expect to receive the same amount of water we have in the past. The Santa Clara Valley Water District is asking everyone in the county to pitch in by reducing their water use by an additional 10 percent this summer.

By taking simple steps, the residents, businesses and farmers of Santa Clara County helped save roughly 42,000 acre-feet of water this year. That’s enough water for about 84,000 families for an entire year. It’s especially important to find out if there are any leaks in your outdoor water usage, since more than half of the water used in an average home goes to its landscape.

To help ensure a reliable water supply for today and the future, the Santa Clara Valley Water District offers a variety of conservation programs and incentives. Whether you are a renter, homeowner or business, we have a program to help you conserve and save money on your water, wastewater and energy bills.

For a complete list of district water conservation program incentives and eligibility rules, please visit www.valleywater.org/conservation or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2554.

Thank you for your efforts to safeguard our water supplies.

Water Conservation Programs for Your Home

Water-Wise House Call Program

Participants of the Water-Wise House Call program receive a thorough evaluation of their home’s indoor and outdoor water use. A trained surveyor will make recommendations regarding your home’s indoor water fixtures and provide or install free faucet aerators, showerheads, and toilet flappers if needed. The surveyor will also evaluate the irrigation system and make efficiency recommendations and provide an annual water-wise irrigation schedule.

Home owners and apartment managers can request a free Water-Wise House Call by contacting 1-800-548-1882. San Jose Water Company customers should contact 408-729-7900 to schedule a residential survey.

Replace Your Old Toilet

Apply for a rebate of up to $125 when you upgrade to an approved high-efficiency toilet (1.28 gallons per flush or less), or a dual flush model. Pre-approval is required, and can be obtained by calling (877) 874-8479. Rebate is doubled for Morgan Hill Utility customers. Efficient toilets use 50–80 percent less water per flush—that’s an average savings of 19,000 gallons per year for the average family of four!

Upgrade to An Efficient Clothes Washer

Take advantage of a combined water and energy rebate of $125–$200 when you purchase a new High Efficiency clothes washer. Efficient clothes washers use 40 percent less water and energy than traditional models and are gentler on clothes.

District rebates are now combined with energy-efficiency rebates from Pacific Gas & Electric Company for the purchase of residential high-efficiency clothes washers. For more information, visit www.waterenergysavings.com or call (800) 933-9555.

Residential Irrigation System Hardware Rebate Program (RISHRP)

RISHRP helps residential survey participants save water and money by providing up to $1,000 for irrigation hardware upgrades. The program offers rebates for the installation of weather-based irrigation controllers, replacement sprinkler nozzles, converting shrub bed irrigation to drip, rain sensors and more.

To request a RISHRP application, contact 408-265-2607 ext. 2554.

Convert High Water Using Plants to Low Water Using Plants and/or Permeable Hardscape

Apply for a rebate of up to $1,000 for converting high water using landscapes to low water using plants and/or permeable hardscape. Rebate amount is calculated on a $0.75 per square foot basis. Rebate is doubled for Morgan Hill Utility and Palo Alto Utility customers.

A pre-installation inspection is required and can be scheduled by calling (866) 685-2322. Original landscape must be present during the pre-installation inspection.

Water Conservation Programs for Businesses

Water Use Surveys for Businesses

Businesses in Santa Clara County may be eligible to participate in this free water survey program. By appointment, a water conservation expert will inspect your business or facility for ways to save and conserve water, thereby lowering your monthly bill. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (408) 496-6965.

Free Toilet Replacement Program for Commercial Facilities and Apartments

Does your business, office, school or apartment complex have old inefficient toilets? The district is offering free installation of high-efficiency toilets to qualifying businesses, schools and apartment complexes in Santa Clara County. For more information, call (888) 520-9494.

Clothes Washer Rebate Program

Apartment complexes and Laundromats throughout Santa Clara County are eligible to receive a $400 rebate for replacing an older top-loading clothes washer with a high-efficiency clothes washer. For more information about this program, call (408) 265-2607, ext. 2707.

Irrigation Technical Assistance Program

The Irrigation Technical Assistance Program (ITAP) provides free irrigation system evaluations to assist property owners in better managing their water use. Sites with one or more acres of irrigated landscape will receive a detailed evaluation of their site’s irrigation system efficiency, site specific efficiency recommendations, an annual water budget and a summary of potential water and cost savings. Our ITAP surveys typically show potential savings of up to $1,000 per acre of landscape.

To request an ITAP application, contact Kevin Galvin at 408-265-2607 ext. 2639.

Irrigation System Hardware Rebate Program (ISHRP)

By participating in the Irrigation System Hardware Rebate Program, ITAP participants can receive up to $4,000 per site in rebates for the installation of hardware upgrades recommended in their ITAP evaluation. Irrigation hardware rebated through the ISHRP program includes high distribution spray nozzles, replacement sprinklers/rotors, converting shrub bed irrigation to drip, pressure reducing valves and more.

To request an ISHRP application, please contact 866-685-2322.

Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate Program

The new generation of weather-based irrigation controllers (WBICs) or “smart controllers” is designed to help site managers save water, time, and money by using local weather conditions to scientifically calculate an irrigation schedule to meet the specific needs of their landscape. Rebates for the installation of WBICs range from $300 to $1,100 per weather-based irrigation controller installed.

A free pre-installation survey is required, contact 866-685-2322 for additional information or to schedule a survey.

Convert High Water Using Plants to Low Water Using Plants and/or Permeable Hardscape

Apply for a rebate of up to $10,000 for businesses for converting high water using landscapes to low water using plants and/or permeable hardscape. Rebate amount is calculated on a $0.75 per square foot basis. Rebate is doubled for Morgan Hill Utility and Palo Alto Utility customers.

A pre installation inspection is required and can be scheduled by calling (866) 685-2322. Original landscape must be present during the pre installation inspection.

Water Efficient Technologies (WET) Program

The WET Program offers rebates of up to $50,000 per water conservation project to commercial, industrial and institutional water customers for the implementation of process and equipment changes which reduce business water usage.

For additional information, please contact Kevin Galvin at 408-265-2607 ext. 2639.

Cooling Tower Conductivity Controller Rebate Program

This program provides a rebate of up to $900 for the installation of a conductivity controller that improves the water use efficiency of your cooling tower. For more information, call (408) 265-2607, ext. 2707.