Save water, money through Wichita's rebate program

Buy a new toilet, get money.

Wichita, a city with water worries, is using the shopping season, when people buy things, to remind them they can save money and water at city expense.

Long-range projections about Wichita water supplies prompted the city in recent years to offer rebates for water-efficient household devices.

The city has already handed out more than $188,000 to residents who bought water-saving devices for their homes, the city said in a statement this week. It still has $261,855 left for eligible applicants, the city said.

The idea is to give people incentives to upgrade homes with water-saving tools. Items eligible for $100 rebates, for example, include low-flow toilets and urinals, high-efficiency dish and clothes washers, smart irrigation controllers and rain sensor shut-offs. There are other tools, eligible for a little less, the city statement said.

Rebates will continue until the program ends on Dec. 31 or the money runs out, the city statement said. The city has approved 1,587 applications resulting in a total value of $188,145 in rebates given back to the community, the city said.

The city earlier this year approved $450,000 for the rebate program, following up last year’s initial effort that officials say resulted in saving 250,000 gallons of water every day.

Applications already approved have included 548 washing machines, 535 dishwashers, 608 toilets, eight smart irrigation controllers, 12 dual flush kits, 31 rain sensors and 208 rain barrels.

Last year, only homeowners were eligible for the program. Now businesses and renters may also apply.

For more information, go to wichita.gov or call 316-268-8351.

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Save water, money through Wichita's rebate program."