HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.g. Water Efficiency Grant Program I:\City Clerk\Agenda Items\Approved Items\2.g.- 20151109 CCWS Water Efficiency Grant Program.docx
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Work Session: November 9, 2015
AGENDA ITEM: Water Efficiency Grant Program AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Patrick Wrase, PE, Director of Public
Works / City Engineer AGENDA NO. 2.g.
ATTACHMENTS: Water Efficiency Grant Program and
Application Form APPROVED BY: ddj
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion
BACKGROUND
The Metropolitan Council (MCES) is offering, for the first time, a Water Efficiency Grant to be used
towards water efficient technologies. MCES has $250,000 available, appropriated by the 2015 Minnesota
Legislature, to be awarded to municipalities making an effort to reduce potable water consumption.
Grants will be awarded in amounts from $2,000 to $50,000. Grant funding covers 75% of the program
costs, and municipalities are required to match 25% of the allocated amount. The funds may be used as
rebates towards the purchase and installation of low-flow toilets, Energy Star-rated washing machines, and
WaterSense irrigation controllers. The application due date is Monday, November 30th.
The initial application to the program is not expected to entail more than a few days of research and
application effort for the submittal to the MCES. From reviewing a few cities that already offer water
conservation rebates, the funding is generally at $50 for Water Sense Toilets, $150 for Energy Star Washers
and $150 for Water Sense Irrigation Controllers. The ongoing administration of the program will require
more significant staff time with application form creation, distribution, assistance, review, inspection and
payment. An initial estimate is that 2 hours of staff time would be required for each application, start to
finish, including on site certification inspection. With nearly 8000 connections, assuming just 1.25% of
our customers apply, 100 applications would be processed requiring an estimated 200 hours of staff time
annually.
The water savings associated with the program are substantial. WaterSense Toilets are estimated to save
4000 gallons per year (gpy), EnergyStar Washers 3000 gpy and WaterSense Irrigation Controllers up to
8800 gpy. Assuming 100 applications distributed equally among the three rebate programs, an annual
savings of 526,000 gallons would be realized. Regarding program cost, making similar utilization
assumptions, the total estimated rebate payments would be $11,666 per year with $8,749 (75%) funded
from the MCES Grant Program and $2,916 in funds from the Rosemount Water Utility Fund.
SUMMARY
Staff would like to initiate a discussion with the council regarding the application, rebates, funding, and
administration of the program.