The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County are offering residents a financial incentive to save water by replacing high-volume toilets and showerheads with low-volume models.
As part of the program, Manatee County customers can apply for a rebate of up to $100 when they replace high-volume toilets with low-flow models. The application must be approved prior to purchasing and installing the new low-volume toilet to receive a rebate. Up to 600 single-family, multi-family and commercial customers may apply by calling 1-888-843-9832.
New low-volume toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, while older models use up to five gallons per flush.
Manatee water customers who have high-volume showerheads may also receive low-flow showerheads. New low-volume showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute, while older high-volume fixtures can use as much as eight gallons per minute.
This program is estimated to conserve as much as 10,900 gallons of water per day. Billing data will be collected to determine the actual water savings.
The total cost for this program is $85,650, which will be divided between the District’s Manasota Basin Board and Manatee County.
The project goals are to educate residents and business owners about indoor conservation measures and proper maintenance to ensure the greatest water-saving potential and to reduce water demand. Educational materials on flapper replacement and other water conservation techniques will be provided to all program participants.