HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.a. Water Efficiency and Stormwater Rebate Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Utility Commission Meeting: July 25, 2022
AGENDA ITEM: Water Efficiency & Stormwater Rebate AGENDA SECTION:
Update Old Business
PREPARED BY: Amy Simonson, Public Works Office
Specialist AGENDA NO. 7.a
Jane Byron, Stormwater Specialist
ATTACHMENTS: None APPROVED BY: NE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None
Quarterly Water Efficiency Rebate Update:
The City of Rosemount was awarded a Water Efficiency Grant from the Metropolitan Council (MCES) in
the amount of $34,000 for the 2022-24 grant cycle.
As part of this program, the following rebate amounts are allowed:
$50 for Water Sense Toilets
$150 for Energy Star Washers
$150 for Water Sense Irrigation Controllers
$200 for Irrigation system audits
Table 1 provides a summary of the entire rebate program activity.
2021 2022 July 2022
Table 1 2020
*New cycle*
Gallons of Water Saved
386,800 200,200 1,144,800 79,200
Annually (est)
Total Rebate $4,971.67 $3,790.26 $3,644.56 $861.84
Municipality Contribution
$1,242.92 $947.56 $911.14 $215.46
(25%)
Irrigation Controllers
35 13 1 9
Replaced:
Toilets Replaced: 6 4 1 0
Washers Replaced: 8 16 1 0
Audits (Residential): 1 0 0 0
Commercial Audit
In a partnership with the Vermillion River Watershed
3 0
Joint Powers Organization on their Urban Water
Conservation Program. 2021 Municipality Contribution
partially provided by Stormwater Utility.
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The three irrigation audits were processed during the 1 Quarter of 2022. The irrigation audits for the
Homeowners Associations (HOA) do not function as a rebate, but rather function as a grant. The HOA
applies and is accepted. The City and VRWJPO arrange for and pay the audit contractor. The HOA only
pays $50 out of pocket. The three HOAs were Crosscroft HOA, Bloomfield Single Family HOA, and
Harmony East HOA. Processing the irrigation audit rebates used up the reminder of the grant dollar for
the current period. The new grant cycle starts in June 2022.
Quarterly Stormwater Rebate Update:
In May 2019, the Utility Commission recommended City Council adopt a rebate program for residents to
install projects on their property to improve stormwater quality and reduce runoff volume. In March 2020,
City Council approved the Stormwater Rebate Policy and established a maximum amount of $5,000.
Table 2 provides a summary of the entire rebate program activity.
2021 2022
Table 2 2020
Total Rebate $0 $147.85 $0
Rain Barrels: $0 $86.94 $0
Cisterns & Rainwater Harvesting: $0 $0 $0
Raingardens: $0 $0 $0
Native Plantings: $0 $60.91 $0
Buffers: $0 $0 $0
Stormwater Reuse: $0 $0 $0
Permeable Pavers & Pavements $0 $0 $0
There were a few applications that were unable to receive the rebate in 2021 because they didn’t meet
program size requirements, didn’t provide receipts, or are delaying installation until 2022. Stormwater
rebates are seasonal, and we won’t see additional requests for rebates until late spring at the earliest.
SWCD Landscaping for Clean Water participation by Rosemount residents has been about twice what we
see in an average year, and there is one more Intro Class to go, so chances are good that we will see more
participation this year. We are hopeful that word continues to get out about the program as more people
take advantage of it.
Here is a summary of planned advertisements of the program in 2022:
Included in a utility insert going out for the January – March billing
Social media posts
Conserve & Preserve Blog Post https://ci.rosemount.mn.us/preserve
Spring or summer edition of the City Newsletter
Information at Home & Business Expo in March
Included in course materials for Landscaping for Clean Water Workshops
Individual staff contacts with residents
City staff presence for Q&A at some of the Landscaping for Clean Water Workshops. There are 3
live virtual workshops through May 4, 2022.
Information at Leprechaun Days Midsummer Faire July 29 & 30
Staff will continue to publicize these programs via social media, city newsletters, staff updates and
additional methods.
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