City of Wichita allots less money for consumer water rebate program

Wichitans who buy water-efficient dishwashers, clothes washers, toilets and other appliances may be able to get rebates from the city starting Feb. 1.

The Wichita City Council approved the rebate program at its meeting Tuesday.

The city has offered a rebate program for people who buy the appliances for several years but this year will allot only $100,000 for water customers, which is less than in years past.

The reduction in rebates available is because fewer Wichitans participated in the program in 2015, said Alan King, director of public works and utilities.

Since 2013, 199 million gallons of water have been saved and 4,251 customers participated, with rebates given for 8,187 devices and appliances, according to city documents.

But in 2015, the city had less than half the applications per week as in 2014.

The city is using some of the previous rebate funding instead to fund two studies that look at long-term conservation.

And last year, the city announced it was partnering with Spirit AeroSystems to use treated wastewater in lieu of drinking water for its manufacturing of aircraft parts.

The joint water conservation plan calls for Spirit to pay for the design and construction of a 2-mile-long pipeline – at a cost of about $4 million – that will transport the treated wastewater to Spirit’s South Oliver plant.

The plan, Spirit and city officials said, will be free of additional costs to other water users and will reduce Spirit’s consumption of the city’s potable – or drinking – water supply by 70 percent.

It also will provide a new source of revenue for the city.

Customers may receive up to five rebates a year, and past rebates have been credited to water bills.

The program will continue until the $100,000 is spent. Those interested in rebates may contact the city to find out about specific appliances that qualify.

For more information, visit SaveWichitaWater.com.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 3:35 PM with the headline "City of Wichita allots less money for consumer water rebate program."