Program Example: MWDOC S Smart Timer Rebate Program CUWCC Case Study
MWDOC Smart Timer Program
Program Example: MWDOC’s Smart Timer Rebate Program CUWCC Case Study
On October 1, 2004, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) launched phase 3 of its pilot weather based irrigation controller program, or as MWDOC coined it, “the Smart Timer Rebate Program.” Phase three was built on two previous studies, the first titled, “The Water Savings Study” and the second titled, “The Residential Runoff Reduction Study (R3 Study).” Both studies reinforced the reliability of smart timers to reduce potable water consumption and their effectiveness in reducing irrigation runoff. MWDOC’s current Smart Timer Rebate Program built upon these studies by creating a broad-based rebate style format for both the residential and commercial site owner.
Using the savings rates established in the R3 Study (41.2gpd residential and 525 gpd commercial), MWDOC was able to acquire a two-year watershed grant from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) totaling $774,320. This funding, the first of its kind for the area from a watershed granting agency, coupled with funding provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) and the Orange County retail water agencies, MWDOC was able to construct a rebate program that incentivize the purchase of smart timers over non-weather based irrigation controllers, or “dumb clocks” in new construction as well as existing sites.
The goal of the program was to install 5,000 smart timers across both residential and commercial sites. As of September 2009, the program has rebated on just over 4,600 smart timers, with the number being fairly evenly split between residential (2,155) and commercial (2,447) installations.
Since the first grant from the SWRCB, MWDOC has secured several additional grants from the Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Agriculture through the National Resource Conservation Service, Department of Water Resources, and the SWRCB. This grant funding along with Metropolitan and local retail water agency funding has allowed MWDOC to provide an average residential rebate of $416 against an average smart timer cost of $500. On the commercial side the rebate has averaged $947 against a commercial smart timer average cost of $1,700.
For the most part of the five-years the program has existed, the residential rebate paid to participants has been $60 per verified valve in use, with the commercial rebates paid at $750 per verified irrigated acre. Included as part of the program from the outset has been an installation verification component. This work has been done by a separate consultant with landscape audit and smart timer installation experience. To date the program has inspected the installation of close to 100% of all installed smart timers.
The installation verification is accomplished prior to the release of the site owner’s rebate check. This is done by MWDOC providing the installation verification consultant with enough information to schedule and perform a smart timer installation site visit. While at the site, the verification technician verifies the installation of each smart timer, counts the number of valves in operation, measures the irrigated area by plant type (turf versus shrubs), checks the smart timers’ program for accuracy, performs a distribution uniformity catch can test on at least one valve, test for water pressure, inspects all heads and places an irrigation flag at those heads with issues, and provides education on other landscape related issues as well as other MWDOC relevant water use efficiency programs.
Through the generous support of Federal, State, and local funding, MWDOC has been able to “move” the smart timer market from early versions of the technology to vastly improved models we see today.