SUBJECT:
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Staff presentation regarding the distribution of Smart Sprinkler Controller rebates in conjunction with the Water Conservation Plan
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Todd Fessenden, Public Works Director
FISCAL INFORMATION:
Cost as Recommended: $14,000
Balance Available: $14,000
Budget Line Item Number: 500-70-110-570280-000000
New Appropriation Required: No
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: N/A
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER: In 2008, the Board of Trustees approved Resolution 08-10, amending the 2007 Water Conservation Plan and formally adopting the Town of Erie’s Water Conservation Plan.
In March of 2018, the Town of Erie was awarded grant funding in the amount of $14,000 to undertake sustainability initiatives in our community. Boulder County’s Sustainability Matching Grant is assisting with funding for our 2018 water conservation programs. These unanticipated funds boosted our existing budget by around 150%. The town has received several inquiries from residents with regard to a rebate program for Smart Irrigation Controllers and we plan to take this opportunity to offer EPA approved WaterSense (SMART) irrigation controller rebates to Erie residents in 2018. Many such controllers are available in the $100 to $200 range online and at home improvement retailers. The Town would provide rebates for the actual cost of the controller up to $200, which could provide funding for at least 70 units. The Town will work with these customers to engage Resource Central to provide outdoor irrigation audits and track water demand trends as a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
Currently the Left Hand Water District, with customers in Erie’s planning area, along with the City and County of Broomfield, City and County of Denver, and the City of Thornton are a few other local entities offering WaterSense labeled irrigation controller rebates.
WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, which act like a thermostat for your sprinkler system telling it when to turn on and off, use local weather conditions via a web connection to tailor watering schedules to actual conditions on the site instead of irrigating using a controller with a clock and a preset schedule. WaterSense labeled controllers allow watering schedules to better match actual landscape and turf water needs. With proper installation, programming, and maintenance, homeowners and businesses can use WaterSense labeled controllers instead of standard clock-timer controllers on their existing systems, and reduce irrigation demands.
The Town is excited for this opportunity to offer the Smart Irrigation Controller rebates for 2018 and look forward to the response from our residents.
Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate Guidelines:
• You must be a Town of Erie water customer with a current, non-delinquent account.
• The Smart Irrigation Controller must have been purchased on or after August 28, 2018 and rebate application must be received by December 31, 2018.
• The unit must be installed at the address on your water bill and must remain in the possession of the original purchaser, or remain at the original installation address for at least one year from the date of purchase. Original receipt must be provided and show a purchase date
• The unit must be a qualifying model listed on the EPA website. Go to www.erieco.gov <http://www.erieco.gov> for product listing.
• Have an active application for an outdoor irrigation audit through Resource Central or have had a recent audit within the previous 24 months.
• Agree to cooperate with future informational requests related to water usage and irrigation audits as part of a pilot study.
• Rebates are on a first-come, first serve basis with a maximum allowable rebate of one per family account and will be credited directly to the water account.
• Required materials can be mailed to or dropped off at Town Hall, Public Works Department located at 645 Holbrook Street (PO Box 750).
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