A $50 rebate could be enough to help residents of Melbourne, Florida, save water and protect a local estuary.
The Florida community is offering incentives for three types of household projects: those that capture rainwater, replace outdated toilets, and involve composting yard waste or food scraps.
Here's what to know
City officials are using the incentive program to promote home upgrades that can support water conservation and curb the runoff and chemical pollution that can reach the Indian River Lagoon.
Locals with residential water service who live inside Melbourne city limits can apply for a $50 reimbursement through the program.
As local news outlet WFTV reported, qualifying upgrades include the implementation of rain barrels sized 40 gallons or larger, compost bins that hold 30 gallons or more, and eligible high-efficiency toilets.
To qualify for the toilet rebate, homeowners need to replace a toilet installed before 1994 with a WaterSense-certified model rated at 1.28 gallons per flush or less, according to the outlet. Only customers who are billed directly by the city can use that rebate.
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Each customer account or street address can receive one rebate, and the offer is scheduled to continue through September 30, 2027, unless the available funding is exhausted before then.
More background
By catching rainfall before it flows into the drainage system, a rain barrel can save about 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months, according to the city.
But inside the home, the biggest savings may come from an older toilet swap. The city says, per WFTV, that a family of four replacing a toilet from the 1980s could save roughly 25,000 gallons annually and trim utility bills, too.
Where can I learn more?
Other cities and states are trying similar strategies for cutting household water usage:
• Tampa's Water Department launched a rebate program for smarter irrigation and lower household water bills.
• Pasadena began offering residents a rebate to revamp thirsty yards with water-wise garden kits.
• In Millcreek, Utah, city leaders gamified water conservation with prizes to reward residents for cutting water use.
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