City Gives Water-Saving Rebates

The city of Lakewood, in Los Angeles County, California, is offering residents credits up to $195 on their water bills if they take voluntary action to curb outdoor water use.The voluntary program will offer bill rebates from $5 to $50 for the purchase of water-saving irrigation devices such as sprinkler rotor nozzles and drip irrigation kits.

Landscape contractors can use these rebates to entice clients to upgrade to water-saving products and new landscaping. The program also will provide rebates of up to $80 for the removal of turf and its replacement with water-conserving landscaping or water permeable surfaces.

The council announced the launch of a new website, www.lakewoodcity.org/waterrebates, where residents can download the rebate application for purchasing water-saving devices and initiate the process for receiving their discounts. Starting May 1, the city will accept applications for turf removal and landscape makeovers. ''Seventy percent of residential water use is outdoors, so that's where our focus is,'' says Jim Glancy, Lakewood's water resources director. ''We want to give residents added options as they start thinking about spring and summer garden projects.''