Water Star Case Study Example
GW-181b: Rebate program for water-efficient toilets.
Category: Groundwater: Municipal Programs & Operations
Audience: All residential property owners
Related activities: GW-35: school demonstration project
GW-52: water conservation toolkits
GW-53: public toilet upgrades
GW-54: rebates for water-efficient appliances
Priority: Important
Point value: 5 points
Activity description:
The community implements a rebate or incentive program for water-efficient toilets which may include
low-flow toilets, dual-flush toilets, and/or waterless toilets.
Rationale
Flushing home toilets is the largest single use of water inside the home. Depending on whether leaks
from toilets are included, it has been estimated that toilet use ranges from 28 percent to almost 40
percent of total indoor water use. There are four ways to reduce water use by toilets. These include:
• Installing low-flow or dual-flush toilets (using 1.6 gallons or less),
• Installing waterless or composting toilets (require no water to flush),
• Leak repair measures (replacement of deteriorated flapper valves and valve seals,
Since 1994, federal law has required new toilets to be “Ultra Low Flush Toilets” (ULFT) using 1.6 gpf or
less. However, many older toilets remain in use. A rebate program encourages property owners to
upgrade to a more efficient model.
Case study:
In January 2009, The Madison Water Utility offered rebates of up to $100 for residential customers who
replace their high water using toilets with EPA WaterSense-rated High Efficiency Toilet (HET) models.
The program is part of the utility’s Water Conservation and Sustainability Plan to reduce per capita water
usage 20 percent by the year 2020, with the goal of protecting the quality and quantity of the deep-well
aquifer that supplies the Madison area.
Toilets eligible for rebate must be HETs (which use an average of 1.28 gallons per flush) and must be on
the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense list. They could be purchased from any
retailer. Homeowners could install the toilets themselves, or they could hire a plumber or contractor to do
the job. Owners were responsible for proper installation and associated costs. Installation could be
subject to verification by water utility personnel.
Participants in the program had to be residential customers of the Madison Water Utility, and the
installation address must be in the customer service area of the utility. Qualified customers are those who
live in single-family homes, condos, or apartments in buildings no larger than four units. Rebates are for
replacement of existing larger-capacity toilets, and are not for new construction. Rebates are first-come,
first-served, until funding was exhausted.
Residents submited the original, dated sales receipt for the toilet showing the manufacturer’s model name
and number and a completed application form (PDF). One rebate per household. Rebate checks were
sent to the customer’s residence of record; the check amount not exceeding the purchase price of the
toilet.
Water Star Case Study Example
Replaced toilets were placed at the curb for pick-up by the City Streets and Recycling Department.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved funding the rebate program through water rates,
allocating $250,000 for $100 rebates to individual customers who replace older toilets.
.
Resources for further information:
Web pages:
HETs listed on the EPA WaterSense website
Madison Water Utility
http://www.cityofmadison.com/water/inTheHome/toiletRebate.cfm
Contacts:
Madison Water Utility 608 266-9129
Verification: tbd