Monday, June 16, 2008

McKinney water rebate program a success

By Rodney Williams of McKinneyNews.net

MCKINNEY — Water conservation is always key in the summer months in North Texas. McKinney is obviously in nowhere near the same predicament as in past summers - specifically two years ago when water rationing was at an all-time high - but the city is feeding the conservation effort all the same.

Part of that effort was the formation of a water rebate program in 2007. The McKinney City Council approved a rebate program to refund conservation-minded residents who install approved devices to help conserve water.

McKinney residents who installed an Evapotranspiration (ET) weather-based irrigation controller in place of their old irrigation system after July 7, 2007 are eligible to receive up to a $125 rebate on their water bill. Any resident who installed an irrigation system rain and freeze sensors after July 7 were also eligible for $25 back. These are one-time credits to their water bills. All devices must be from a list approved by the city.

Apparently, the program is a success.

"It's going really well," said Micah Barton, City of McKinney Environmental Education Coordinator. "There's definitely been a good response."

The numbers would seem to attest to that statement. According to Barton, since the beginning of the program the City has issued almost $10,000 in rebates for ET controllers and rain/freeze sensors.

"We are happy with the number of people who have retro-fitted their irrigations systems with ET controllers in an effort to conserve water and in turn, save money on their water bills," she said. "We will continue to publicize the rebate program in hopes that more and more residents in McKinney commit to saving water. Our hope is to expand the rebate program next year to include more indoor water-conserving items."

Even with all the good the program has done, Barton cautions that water conservation is still being monitored. Citations can still be issued for those who don't mind the watering schedule of twice per week and not between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Also, said Barton, citations can be issued for those watering their lawns during rain.

For more information about how to qualify for this program and other ways to save water, click here.

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