The rebate programs are offered to treated water
customers in the PCWA service area on a first-come, first-served
basis and will continue until all funds are depleted.
The approved rebate amounts will be credited to your water
billing account.
Residential Programs & Rebates
For additional information or applications
on any of the rebate programs please call the PCWA Customer
Services Center at 530.823.4850.
Commercial Programs & Rebates
Irrigation & Agricultural
Information
Events
Educational Programs
Water Use Efficiency Information
More Information
Residential Programs & Rebates
For additional information or applications
on any of the rebate programs please call the PCWA Customer
Services Center at 530.823.4850.
The rebate programs are offered on a first-come,
first-served basis and will continue until all funds are
depleted. The approved rebate amounts will be credited to
your water billing account. For technical information on
the rebate products, go to the California Urban Water Conservation
Council at www.cuwcc.org/products_tech.lasso
High-Efficiency
Clothes Washing Machine (HEW)
Rebate Program (revised 1/1/2010). This
program offer is for a rebate of $150
to replace older clothes washing machines with a new EPA
Water Sense clothes washing machine that has a CEE Tier
3 water factor. This new program takes effect on January
1, 2010. CEE Tier 3 contains the most efficient washing
machines; Tier 1 and Tier 2 do not qualify for the rebate.
For more details and a list of qualifying clothes washing
machines see: www.cee1.org/resid/seha/rwsh/rwsh-prod.pdf.
PCWA applied for and received assistance from the United
States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to conduct a Clothes
Washing Machine Rebate Program. PCWA was awarded funding
from the USBR and has approved a matching $15,000 for a
total program of $30,000.
Water Efficient Clothes Washing Machine Rebate Program Requirements - Please read prior to purchasing your new clothes washing machine.
back to top
High-Efficiency
Toilet (HET) Rebate Program. This
program offer is for a rebate up to $175
to replace older 3 gallons or more flush toilets with new
1.28 gallons or less high-efficiency toilets for all customers
in the PCWA service area. The toilet rebate program is partially
funded by a grant from the United States Bureau of Reclamation
and the Regional Water Authority. HET toilets must be purchased
after June 1, 2008 to qualify.
back to top
Ultra-Low
Flush Toilet (ULFT) Rebate Program. A rebate
up to $125 is available for customers replacing
older 3 gallons per flush or higher with new 1.6 gallons
per flush toilets. This program is for a limited time. This
program is a partnership with the Regional Water Authority,
South Placer Wastewater Authority and the United States
Bureau of Reclamation. ULFT toilets must be purchased after
June 1, 2008 to qualify.
back
to top
Hot
Water Demand Whole House Recirculation System Pilot Program
Rebate. New! Hot
Water Demand Whole House Recirculation System Rebate Retrofit
Program. $150 rebates are being offered
for every tank style hot water heater replaced with a Hot
Water Demand Whole House Recirculation System. PCWA defines
a Hot Water Demand Whole House Recirculation System as a
tankless hot water heater, a pump system that quickly circulates
hot water throughout the whole house and a thermal bypass
valve. The pump can be located at the hot water heater or
the furthest point from the hot water heater. The pump can
be controlled by a timer, wireless remote control, motion
sensor or by an on demand switch. The cold water is saved
using a thermal valve at the furthest point from the tankless
hot water heater, thus recirculating back into the cold
water pipe.
Program
Requirements
back
to top
Point
of Use Hot Water Rebate Pilot Program. New!
$50 rebates are being offered for
every Point of Use (POU) hot water heater installed. PCWA
defines Point of Use hot water heaters as devices that are
placed under a sink to bring instant hot water to the faucet.
Normally these are 2-3 gallon devices and are plugged into
an outlet.
Program
Requirements
back
to top
Lawn Replacement Rebate Pilot Program. New!
Rebates are being offered for removal of maintained
lawn* that is replaced with either non-water consuming material
(e.g., bark or mulch, rock, deck, synthetic turf, concrete,
and permeable concrete products) or low to moderate use
plants. The maximum rebate is $300 per
parcel and is applied as a credit to the account.
The minimum amount of maintained lawn that must be replaced
is 300 square feet. Before beginning the Replacement
Program, you must receive the information packet that contains
the detailed terms and conditions of the program. In order
to be eligible a pre-conversion site visit must be scheduled
(before any lawn is removed).
A $300 rebate is given if the lawn is
replaced with non-water consuming material (e.g., bark or
mulch, rock, deck, synthetic turf, concrete, and permeable
concrete products).
A $150 rebate is given if the lawn is
replaced with low to moderate water-use plant selections
(this includes all non-water consuming surface materials
used in and around the plants). Low to moderate plant material
shall be used and the plant coverage cannot exceed 50% of
the landscaped area when fully mature.
Existing lawn Irrigation system plumbing must be removed/rendered
useless or replaced with an approved low volume irrigation
system if low to moderate plant material is installed in
the newly landscaped area.
*Maintained lawn is considered grass that is regularly
watered and mowed and in good condition.
Applicant must be a treated water customer of PCWA.
Areas to be converted must be maintained lawn currently
irrigated with treated water. Dead lawns will not be eligible
for a rebate. The material(s) must be installed
at the service address listed on the application. Rebates
are for lawn replacement only. For additional information
or applications please call the PCWA Customer Services Center
at 530.823.4850.
back
to top
Water-Wise
House Calls:
Our trained technicians will come to your home, business,
apartment house or mobile home park and check for leaks
and give you customized water-use tips, outdoor irrigation
check-ups and provide watering schedules. To
schedule an appointment call PCWA Customer Services at 530.823.4850
or 800.464.0030.
During the call we will:
- Evaluate the efficiency of the irrigation system.
- Provide an irrigation watering schedule.
- Identify irrigation leaks, broken or mismatched sprinkler
heads, high pressure and other common problems.
- Provide water efficiency program materials and water-wise
landscaping tips.
- Check the toilets for leaks and replace toilet flapper
valves, if needed, and requested.
- Install water efficient shower heads and faucet aerators
if needed and requested.
back to top
PCWA Water Use Efficiency Team
Commercial Programs
& Rebates
"Commercial" sites
include: businesses, schools, government facilities, parks,
hotels, restaurants, and churches.
For additional information or applications on any of the
rebate programs please call the PCWA Customer Services Center
at 530.823.4850.
The rebate programs are offered on a first-come,
first-served basis and will continue until all funds are
depleted. The approved rebate amounts will be credited to
your water billing account. For technical information on
the rebate products, go to the California Urban Water Conservation
Council website at:
www.cuwcc.org/products_tech.lasso
High-Efficiency
Toilet (HET) Rebate Program.
This program offer is for a rebate up to $200
to replace older 3 gallons or more flush toilets with new
1.28 gallons or less high-efficiency toilets for all customers
in the PCWA service area. The toilet rebate program is partially
funded by a grant from the United States Bureau of Reclamation
and the Regional Water Authority. HET toilets must be purchased
after June 1, 2008 to qualify. For more details and a list
of qualifying toilets see:
http://www.cuwcc.com/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=7396
back to top
Waterless
Urinal Rebate Program. This program offer is for
a rebate up to $200 to replace older high-flow
urinals with new waterless urinals. In addition to
saving water and sewer costs, waterless urinals are an improvement
over traditional urinals in both maintenance and hygiene.
This program is partially funded by a grant from the United
States Bureau of Reclamation and the Regional Water Authority.
For more details and a list of qualifying toilets and urinals
see:
http://www.cuwcc.com/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=7408
back to top
Water-Wise
Business Calls. Our trained technicians will come
to your commercial site. They will check for leaks, conduct
outdoor irrigation check ups and provide watering schedules.
To schedule an appointment call PCWA
Customer Services at 530.823.4850 or 800.464.0030.
Large
Landscape Irrigation Survey. The Agency will fund
services to complete 40 large landscape water surveys for
irrigated areas over one acre. The certified Landscape Irrigation
Auditor will schedule, assess, and follow up with recommendations
and provide a detailed water yield analysis. To
schedule an appointment call PCWA Customer Services at 530.823.4850
or 800.464.0030.
back to top
Irrigation &
Agricultural Information
All questions should be directed
to the PCWA Customer Services Center at 530.823.4850 or
800.464.0030.
Grower
Irrigation Management System (GIMS). The program
started with a small number of agricultural customers in
2005 and will be expanded in future years. Installation
of soil probes will allow soil moisture monitoring. The
agricultural customer is notified on a weekly basis of irrigation
scheduling using the California Irrigation Management Information
System evapotranspiration (ETo) data. The GIMS program is
partially funded by a grant from the United States Bureau
of Reclamation.
back to top
California
Irrigation Management Information Service (CIMIS).
In partnership with the California Department of Water Resources
(DWR), the Agency operates and maintains two CIMIS weather
stations in Placer County. They are supported by the Placer
County Farm Advisors and the United States Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation District.
In late 2005 the California Urban Water
Conservation Council obtained Proposition 50 funding to
work with DWR to study additional sites to establish local
evapotranspiration (ETo) data for urban and microclimate
locations. The first year, DWR was interested in the installation
of 10 study sites throughout California based on suitable
locations within relative proximity to an already established
CIMIS station and purveyor readiness. Twenty seven interested
purveyors submitted requests for forty two stations. Of
these applications DWR determined that the PCWA Sunset Water
Treatment Plant property would be a suitable location to
install one of the ten study sites. DWR collects and analyzes
the data to determine if there is a reliable correlation
between this station and other reference CIMIS stations.
The stations installed during this study are essentially
the same as established CIMIS stations, except they are
located on a surface other than grass.
CIMIS is a network of automated and computerized
weather stations located at key agricultural and urban areas
in the state. CIMIS collects hourly weather data including
solar radiation, wind speed and direction, relative humidity,
air and soil temperature, and rainfall. The stations collect
local weather data and transmit to a centralized computer
center in Sacramento. The data is converted to “reference
evapotranspiration”, which is a measure of water lost
from the soil surface (evaporation) and the amount of water
used by plants (transpiration).
CIMIS forms the backbone of water management
programs on the demand side. CIMIS complements water supply
programs such as snow surveys, reservoir capacity estimates,
and rainfall estimates.
CIMIS data is a major source of ETo for
many agricultural and landscape water users, farm advisors,
and other irrigation specialists. Residents can use this
information to determine the water needs of their plants
and to create efficient irrigation scheduling. This helps
maintain healthy landscapes by utilizing the correct amount
of water. PCWA appreciates the partnership with DWR, which
benefits its customers, the community, and the region.
www.cimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/welcome.jsp
back to top
Why
Should I Use Water Efficiently?
|
- Water is vital to life. Without it, we cannot
survive.
- The amount of water on earth has not changed
since the earth was created; the current supply
is all we will ever have.
- Water is the foundation of our food chain; using
water efficiently will ensure an adequate supply
of water for irrigation.
- Saving water reduces the energy it takes to
process and deliver water, reducing and conserving
fuel sources.
- Saving water means having water available for
recreational uses for years to come.
- Using water efficiently minimizes the effects
of water shortages and helps build supplies against
future drought years.
- Using water efficiently now ensures water for
future generations to come.
- Proper application of irrigation water will
enhance the appearance of your landscape and could
prevent water waste due to run off.
- Using water efficiently relates to saving money!
back to top
|
How
Can I Prevent Water Waste?
|
Monitoring your irrigation controller
and doing monthly irrigation system maintenance is
critical. Follow the steps below to minimize or eliminate
water waste.
- Once a month, monitor your irrigation system checking
for leaks, improperly adjusted sprinklers, or broken
pipes and valves. Shut down the system, and then
make repairs.
- Read the instructions and become familiar with
your automatic irrigation controller. Make a list
or diagram of each station, include the run time
and scheduled days. Keep this information near your
controller for a quick reference.
Some soil conditions or the slope
of the area to be watered will require multiple start
times. If water is running off, try three short periods
of irrigation instead of one long period. This will
allow the water to soak into the soil and minimize
or eliminate run off.
back to top
|
Outdoor
Water- Use Efficiency Tips
|
- Get some exercise and save water too! Use a
broom or rake rather than water to clean driveways,
sidewalks or patios.
- Water landscape only between midnight and 10
A.M. to avoid the hottest part of the day and
when water is lost to evaporation. However, since
the hours of 5 A.M. to 8 A.M. are peak indoor
water use times, try to avoid programming your
timer for those morning hours.
- Avoid operating your irrigation system on windy
days, since a large amount of water will be wasted
to over spray and evaporation.
- Turn off sprinkler systems when it is going
to rain. After it rains, the lawns may not need
to be watered for three or more days, depending
on the season. Check to make sure the soil is
dry before watering. A moisture meter can help
you check. Too much water keeps oxygen from the
roots and plants need oxygen to grow.
- Shut down sprinkler system during the rainy
season.
- Inspect sprinkler system regularly for clogged
spray heads, leaks or malfunctioning valves and
make necessary repairs to save water and money.
back to top
|
Indoor
Water-Use Efficiency Tips
|
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine only
when you have a full load.
- Fix toilet leaks. To determine if your toilet
is leaking, add food coloring to the tank water
and let it sit 15 minutes. If the color appears
in the bowl, there is a leak.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
Faucets can flow at 2 to 3 gallons per minute.
- Replace older toilets (pre 1992) with new high-efficiency
(HET) models. The new HET toilets use less than
half as much water as older models.
- Install new efficient showerheads and faucet
aerators.
- Make your next clothes washing machine and clothes
dryer water and energy savers. You can cut your
water and energy usage in half with the new efficient
models.
back to top
|
Water-Use
Efficiency Library
|
 Water-Wise
Gardening for California: A Sunset Publication (contact
PCWA to order)
Back Yards From the Ground Up: A Sunset Publication
(contact PCWA to order)
 Water-Wise
Landscaping: Water Efficient Plants for the Sierra
Foothills Zone 7
 Rules
of Thumb for Water-Wise Gardening
 Be
Water-Wise Activity Book Grades K-2
 Our
World of Water Activity Book Grades 3-6
Documents are
provided as PDF files which can be viewed and printed
through Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software.
Larger quantities may available by contacting the
PCWA Customer Services Center.
back to top
|
AWWA is the authoritative resource on safe
water, providing knowledge, information and advocacy to
improve the quality and supply of water in North America
and beyond.
American
Water Works Association
Welcome to WaterWiser®, a comprehensive
clearinghouse of resources on water conservation,
efficiency, and demand management for conservation professionals
and the larger water supply community.
CUWCC is a partnership of water suppliers, environmental
groups, and others interested in conserving California’s
greatest natural resource - WATER.
California
Urban Water Conservation Council Website.
Take the virtual tour to investigate your water saving
opportunities in each area of your home.
Home
Tour
Check out the Top
5 Actions
to discover some of the best ways to save water in and
around your home.
Visit GardenSoft for Water-Wise gardening in the Gold Country.
How much water are you using at your home? The Water
Budget Calculator will help you find out!
Visit the Garden
Guide to find inspiration for beautiful water conserving
gardens.
![[logo] US EPA](images/efficiency_new_clip_image006.gif)
EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research,
education and assessment efforts.
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, makes it easy for Americans
to save water and protect the environment.
WaterSense
The mission of the Water Education Foundation, an impartial
non-profit organization, is to create a better understanding
of water issues and help resolve water resource problems
through educational programs.
Water
Education Foundation
This water calculator is a tool that helps you
estimate the right amount of water to apply to your landscape
or garden Water
Calculator.
back to top
How can
I check for a leak in my system?
|
To determine if you have a leak in your system, turn
off all interior water and any irrigation water. Take
a pencil and paper and go to your water meter. Remove
the meter box lid and see if the dial on the meter
is moving. If you have all your water off and the
dial is moving then you have a leak. If the dial does
not move, write down the meter read and wait one hour.
During this time, walk your property and look for
signs of a water leak. After one hour see if the number
on your meter dial has moved, if it has, then you
have a leak.
back to top
|
