Water Utility

The Madison Water Utility has expanded its popular toilet rebate program to include apartment buildings in the City. A year ago, the utility began offering rebates of up to $100 as an incentive for residential customers to replace their older toilets with EPA WaterSense-labeled High Efficiency Toilet (HET) models. As of January 1, landlords who own larger apartment buildings can now also qualify for the incentive rebates.

The program is part of the utility's Water Conservation and Sustainability Plan to reduce per capita water usage 20 percent by the year 2020, with the goal of protecting the quality and quantity of the deep-well aquifer that supplies the Madison area. The EPA's WaterSense program is part of that agency's mission to protect drinking water resources, and it is similar in approach to Energy Star labeling for electric appliances.

"Toilets are the largest users of water in the home, so this is the logical place to encourage water efficiency," said Water Utility General Manager Tom Heikkinen. "In 2009, we provided nearly 1,800 rebates for residential customers who are now enjoying lower water bills as well as helping to conserve water, a savings by our calculations of more than eight million gallons. With this rebate expansion, apartment residents and landlords can now participate as well."

Plan details

Toilets eligible for the rebate must be HETs (which use an average of 1.28 gallons per flush) and must be on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense list
(http://epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm). Rebates are for up to $100 per replaced toilet and cannot exceed the actual purchase price of the fixture. Only one rebate per household or apartment unit is allowed.

To apply for the rebate, customers must submit the original, dated sales receipt for the toilet(s) showing the manufacturer's model name and number and the completed application form which can be found on the utility's website www.madisonwater.org or by stopping at the utility offices at 119 East Olin Avenue. Rebate checks will be mailed approximately four to six weeks after receipt of the application.

Participants in the program must be customers of the Madison Water Utility. Rebates are for replacement of existing larger-capacity toilets, and are not for new construction. Rebates are first-come, first-served until funding is exhausted. Additional details can be found on the utility website or by calling the Madison Water Utility at 608:266-9129.