State Rebate Programs for Water Conservation
The California Department of Water Resources has introduced two new rebate programs for water conservation. The first program will rebate up to $2 per square foot for lawn replacements to water efficient landscaping. Residents can get up to $2,000 per household. The second program is a toilet rebate of up to $100 per household for the replacement of any old toilet using more than 1.6 gallons per flush with a high efficiency toilet using 1.28 gallons per flush or less. Both programs are funded through Proposition 1. More information is available at water.ca.gov.
PACE Financing Programs
While the City does not offer a “cash for grass” program, Elk Grove property owners do have access to several energy financing programs to save water and make their homes more efficient. Whether you are looking to add water saving technologies, replace an air conditioner, install Solar Photovoltaics, or a complete energy makeover, there are several programs worth looking at. Thousands of California homeowners have used PACE programs to upgrade their homes, paying nothing up front, and making payments over 5 to 20 years through their property taxes. In some cases the savings on energy bills can be greater than the payment. Commercial properties can also participate.
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Get Water Wise Landscaping Ideas at the Rain Garden Plaza
The City of Elk Grove's Rain Garden Plaza, located on Laguna Springs Drive across from Colton Park, is the first comprehensive large-scale rain garden in the Sacramento region and the State of California designed to educate and build community awareness to conserve water resources, improve water quality, attract wildlife habitat, and promote watershed stewardship through both passive learning and hands-on fun interactive educational components.
Rain Garden Plaza features a rain garden, biofiltration swales, pervious paving systems, water harvesting features, and California native, drought resistant plants. The Rain Garden Plaza features low-impact development (LID) practices that work with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible by incorporating “river-friendly” landscaping techniques. The Rain Garden Plaza acts like a living laboratory teaching people of all ages about sustainable stormwater practices. Plant markers have been recently added to all of the plantings in the Rain Garden Plaza to assist homeowners to identify and purchase native plants that work well in the area. Learn more about the Rain Garden Plaza.
Making Water Conservation a Daily Part of Your Routine
- Fix leaky faucets, toilets and sprinklers
- Turn off the water when you’re not using it while shaving or brushing your teeth
- Wash your car at a carwash which typically use recalculating water systems instead of at home
- Use a blower or broom instead of a hose to move debris from your driveway, sidewalk or street
- Take a shower instead of a bath
- Ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are full before each wash
- Eliminate extra flushes
- Reduce or eliminate lawn watering
- Report water waste
- Replace appliances with those that use less water (Rebates for new water efficient appliances may be available through PG&E, SMUD or your water agency. Visit www.bewatersmart.info for rebates and incentives)
- Request a free landscape irrigation audit or water efficiency review through your water agency
Elk Grove Water District Irrigation Audit Request Form
>Sacramento County Water Wise House Calls
Doing Our Part to Conserve
The City of Elk Grove is taking steps to conserve water citywide and at City facilities. Water conservation measures include:
- The City is using reclaimed water for irrigation when available
- Facility building landscape watering reduced by 25%
- Water conservation at City facilities, including new appliances, faucets and plumbing that require significantly less water
Public Landscape Irrigation
Additional Resources: