Yesterday’s post discussed the new water rules that are effective beginning June 1, 2009. The new rules require that all owners of San Diego homes, condos, apartment buildings, and commercial properties make specific efforts to cut back on their water use. (Violators are subject to fines, so please make sure you know the rules.) But we’d also like to point out that help is available to home owners who want to do their part to conserve water. This help includes publicly funded cash rebates for specific conservation measures as well as discount offers from local San Diego businesses.
Cash rebates are being offered to San Diego home owners who install “smart controllers” and certain kinds of sprinkler nozzles, efficient clothes washers and toilets, artificial turf, and drought-tolerant plants in lieu of grass. The rebates are being handled through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Rebate amounts start at $85 for high-efficiency clothes washers, $100 for high-efficiency toilets, $0.30 per square foot of artificial turf, $1 per square foot where turf is replaced with drought tolerant plants, $80 for weather-based irrigation controllers, and $4 per nozzle for rotating sprinkler nozzles.
These rebates are only available for a limited time on a first-come first-serve basis though June 2009, or until the funding runs out, whichever is sooner. To find out if your San Diego property is still eligible, call the Metropolitan Water District at 1-888-376-3314 or visit So Cal Water Smart. Reservations are required in advance, so make sure to call before you make any purchases if you’re counting on a rebate. Also note that funding for these rebates to owners of San Diego homes and investment properties is provided on an annual basis, so if funds run out this year then keep it in mind for next year.
Private landscaping companies and plumbers are also pitching in to encourage area home owners to do their share to conserve water. For example, during the month of June 2009 the Torrey Pines Landscape company is offering complimentary water audits to owners of San Diego homes, along with free estimates for water-saving modifications. Torrey Pines Landscape is well known for providing landscape design, installation, and maintenance services to owners of Del Mar luxury homes, La Jolla luxury homes, and Rancho Santa Fe estates. They can install the “smart controllers” that automatically adjust watering times based on live weather data. Anyone who signs up for maintenance service ($500 monthly minimum) will receive 160 four-inch pots of flowers as a free gift.
Water conservation is truly a critical element in the long-term success of the San Diego neighborhoods that we know and love. Please be a responsible home owner and do your part to conserve! If you know of other local companies offering specials relating to water conservation in San Diego homes or businesses, please send us your reply and we’ll help get the word out.