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Commercial & Multi-Family Irrigation Equipment Rebate
Program Overview
Commercial, Multi-Family and Institutional properties can save thousands of dollars by improving the efficiency of their irrigation systems. Improvements to the physical irrigation system combined with proper management and efficient practices can typically result in savings of up to 50% of total outdoor water use. The Commercial Irrigation Equipment Rebate Program provides rebates for high-efficiency irrigation equipment as an incentive for commercial, multi-family and institutional water customers. Past participants have saved a tremendous amount of water by upgrading to more efficient irrigation equipment. For lawn conversion projects, go to our Lawn to Garden page.
Available Rebates
Rebates are available for the equipment listed below. Each has its own rebate amount and requirements. For full details on each rebate type see the Program Requirements and Product Qualifications Section.
- Smart Irrigation Controllers
- Drip Retrofit
- Sprinkler Nozzle Retrofit
- Sprinkler Head Retrofit
- Pressure Regulator
- Landscape Irrigation Sub-Meter
Smart Irrigation Controllers
Rebate is to upgrade conventional controllers to WaterSense certified smart irrigation controllers. Compared to traditional irrigation controllers, Smart irrigation controllers will adjust the watering schedule automatically based on changes in the weather helping save time, water, and money. After initial set-up and programming plants and soil should be monitored to confirm the proper amounts of water has been applied per station. Make programming adjustments when needed to not over or under water landscape.
| Rebate Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Rebate is to upgrade conventional controllers to WaterSense certified smart irrigation controllers only. | Rebate is $20 per active irrigation station (zone) not to exceed 50% of the list price of the controller. An active station is any station that is being used to irrigate plants. |
Drip Retrofit
Rebate is for converting an existing sprinkler system to a drip irrigation system. Converting a sprinkler zone to drip irrigation can save a significant amount of water and eliminate wasteful runoff and overspray. Preventing overspray and runoff of irrigation water can dramatically increase the useful life of the property’s buildings, foundations, fences, and parking surfaces.
| Rebate Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Rebate is for converting an existing sprinkler system to a drip system. | Rebate is $0.10 (ten cents) per square foot of converted landscape area not to exceed 50% of list price of drip components. |
Sprinkler Nozzle Retrofit
Rebate is for replacing existing inefficient fixed spray nozzles with qualifying high-efficiency nozzles. Standard fixed spray sprinkler nozzles deliver water at more than 1-1/2 inches per hour, which far exceeds the ability of our local clay soil to absorb it, resulting in runoff and uneven coverage. Comparatively, high-efficiency nozzles with lower application rates apply water more slowly and with greater efficiency resulting in better distribution uniformity and even coverage all with less runoff. High efficiency nozzles can improve efficiency by up to 30%!
| Rebate Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Rebate is for replacing existing inefficient fixed spray nozzles with qualifying high-efficiency nozzles. | Rebate is up to $2.00 per nozzle, not to exceed 50% of the list price of the nozzle. |
Sprinkler Head Retrofit
Rebate is for replacing existing inefficient sprinkler heads with sprinkler heads that have one or both of the following features: built in pressure regulation and/or built in check valve. When water pressure is too high, sprinkler systems can waste significant water through misting and poor distribution uniformity. There are several ways to control pressure. One way is to replace the existing sprinkler heads with pressure regulating sprinkler heads. The goal is to reduce the operating pressure to a level that provides the manufacturer recommended pressure for the specific sprinkler nozzles being used. Operating at the correct pressure improves distribution uniformity, prevents water loss from misting, and allows for a reduced run-time.
When sprinklers systems are installed on a slope water can drain out of the lowest sprinkler when the system turns off. The slope does not have to be steep just one foot of elevation change could create the problem. This is called low head drainage and wastes water and creates wet spots around sprinkler heads. Low head drainage is also hard on the irrigation system. The next time it comes on all that air that got sucked into the line now gets blown out which can be heard as a hissing or whistling sound, this creates a lot of stress on the pipes and fittings creating the potential for pipe breaks. Low head drainage also interferes with the next irrigation cycle. A four minute cycle time means four minutes of water applied at the low end of the system and maybe only three minutes at the high end of the system. Installing check valves will reduce to eliminate these problems.
| Rebate Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Rebate is for replacing existing inefficient sprinkler heads with sprinkler heads that have one or both of the following features: built in pressure regulation and/or built in check valve | Pressure Regulating Sprinkler: Rebate is up to $2.00 per head. Sprinkler with built in Check Valve: Rebate is up to $1.00 per head. Pressure Regulating w/ Check Valve: Rebate is up to $3.00 per head. All Sprinkler Head Rebates not to exceed 50% of list price. |
Pressure Regulator
Rebate is for installing a pressure regulator at the site’s irrigation point of connection or at the individual irrigation valve(s). Instead of switching out all the sprinkler heads on a station, a pressure regulator at the irrigation valve may be an option. Installation of a pressure regulator at the irrigation system’s point of connection can reduce pressure to the entire irrigation system. Lower pressure extends the life of irrigation systems and reduces wear on irrigation pipes, valves, and sprinklers. Pressure regulators can reduce system water usage by up to 20% while improving distribution uniformity and preventing misting.
| Rebate Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Rebate is for installing a pressure regulator at an irrigation point of connection or at an irrigation valve | The rebate is up to $150 per pressure regulation device, not to exceed 50% of the list price. |
Landscape Irrigation Sub-Meter
Rebate is for purchasing and installing a water meter (sub-meter) to help separately measure and manage irrigation water use from building water use. Older properties often have a single water meter supplying both the building and the irrigation system making it difficult to measure how much water is used in the landscape, or in the building. A sub-meter is the single most cost-effective upgrade if used to manage an irrigation water budget and to help detect system leaks.
| Rebate Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Rebate is for purchasing and installing a water meter (sub-meter) to help separately measure and manage irrigation water use from building water use. | The rebate is up to $300 per sub-meter, not to exceed 50% of list price. Limit three sub-meters per account. |
How to Apply
- Review and understand the Program Terms & Conditions (to the right) before applying.
- Application: Complete and submit the online Application. As part of the application process device forms listing the equipment and quantities being applied for will need to be filled out.
Note: Rebate will be payable to the Property Owner unless otherwise designated by the Property Owner or their designee (see step 4). Additionally, the Payee name must match the name on the required IRS W-9 form, submitted with the application. The IRS requires CCWD to issue IRS 1099’s to all customers receiving $600 or more in rebates during a calendar year. More information. - Approval to Proceed: CCWD may call to schedule and conduct a pre-project site inspection if necessary to verify eligibility. Once eligibility is determined, CCWD will then send an “Approval to Proceed” letter/email indicating the irrigation upgrade rebates qualify for and the anticipated rebate amount of the project. Once the “Approval to Proceed” letter/email has been received, the project may begin.
- Completed Project Submittal: Once the project is completed fill out the online Finished Project Submittal form.
- If changes were made to the number or location of devices installed submit, from the application, attach adjusted device forms.
- Invoice/Receipt: Attach invoice(s) for the project that describe the work done. If work was done inhouse receipt should correspond to items on the devise forms. Please highlight all line items for which a rebate is being requested.
- A completed IRS W-9 tax form (PDF).
- If needed complete a Release of Payment Authorization (PDF) form if check is to be issued to someone other than the Property Owner.
Please address envelope to: CCWD Water Conservation, PO Box H2o, Concord, CA 94524
- CCWD will contact you to schedule a post-installation inspection to verify that qualifying products have been installed and all Program Terms and Conditions have been met. Once all conditions are met, CCWD will process and issue a rebate check. Final rebate amount will be determined from the counts and measurements from the post-inspection. Please allow 6-8 weeks for rebate processing.
Questions? Call 925-688-8320 or email us.
Program Terms and Conditions
Eligibility
- Commercial, Multi-Family, and Institutional customers with currently irrigated and maintained landscape, served by an active water account in good standing are eligible to apply.
- Property must be in CCWD’s retail or wholesale service area.
- Properties may require a site pre-inspection and all properties must be approved by CCWD before the project is started. Projects that are completed before CCWD approval DO NOT QUALIFY. Rebates are not retroactive.
Program Requirements and Product Qualifications
- Application form must be signed by the property owner or property owner’s agent or designee with express consent by the property owner to the Rebate Program Terms and Conditions, and Rebate Agreement/Release of Liability.
- A pre-installation inspection by CCWD may be required to verify Program Eligibility.
- All equipment must be purchased new and be properly installed according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Completed Project Submittal Form and purchase receipts/ invoices must be submitted within six months of Approval to Proceed notice.
- A post-installation inspection by CCWD is required to verify qualifying equipment has been installed and Program Qualifications have been met.
- Rebated equipment must be properly maintained and operated for the useful life of the equipment.
- Applicant must abide by the “How to Apply” procedures. Contact us with questions at 925-688-8320 or email us.
- Program is subject to available funds and CCWD reserves the right to alter the program at any time without notice
Qualifying Products and Installation Conditions
- Smart Irrigation Controllers
- Drip Retrofit
- Sprinkler Nozzle Retrofit
- Sprinkler Head Retrofit
- Pressure Regulator
- Landscape Irrigation Sub-meter
Smart Irrigation Controllers
- Rebate is to upgrade existing conventional controllers to WaterSense certified smart irrigation controllers.
- Rebate is $20 per active irrigation station (zone) not to exceed 50% of the list price of the controller. An active irrigation station is any station that is being used to irrigate plants.
- Controller must be installed and programmed per manufacturer’s directions and the site’s conditions. Initial settings will require fine tuning per station.
- Site’s existing irrigation equipment (sprinklers, valves, etc.) must be in good working order in order to be eligible.
Drip Retrofit
- Rebate is for converting an existing sprinkler system to a drip system.
- Rebate is $0.10 (ten cents) per square foot of converted landscape area.
- Entire irrigation zone(s) must be converted to qualify. This means a zone cannot be partially converted leaving some sprinklers and some drip.
- Drip system must be installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations including proper pressure regulation, filtration, and layout.
- Drip emitters must be pressure compensating.
- Drip emitters cannot have a flow rate over 7 gallons per hour (GPH).
- No high-pressure, multi-outlet drip, “spaghetti” tubing, misters nor micro-spray is allowed.
- Participants are encouraged to use inline emitter drip tubing when possible. Check out this flyer on inline-drip design (PDF).
Sprinkler Nozzle Retrofit
- Rebate is for replacing existing inefficient traditional spray nozzles with qualifying high-efficiency nozzles.
- Rebate is up to $2.00 per nozzle, not to exceed 50% of the list price.
- New high-efficiency nozzles must have a precipitation rate of 1.0” per hour or less
Eligible Nozzles include:
- Hunter MP Rotator
- Rain Bird Rotary
- Toro Precision Series Spray
- Toro Precision Series Rotating
- All sprinklers within an irrigation zone must be converted and have matched precipitation rates to qualify.
- Sprinkler nozzles must be installed and adjusted to meet manufactures specifications, minimize overspray, and provide adequate “head to head” coverage.
- Existing sprinklers may have to be relocated or additional sprinklers added to achieve even “head to head” coverage and to eliminate overspray in order to qualify.
Sprinkler Head Retrofit
- Rebate is for replacing existing sprinkler heads with sprinkler heads that have one or both of the following features: built in pressure regulation and/or built in check valve.
- Rebate amounts are as follows:
- Pressure Regulating Heads: Rebate is up to $2.00 per head
- Heads with Built in Check Valve: Rebate is up to $1.00 per head
- Heads with Pressure Regulation and Check Valve: Rebate is up to $3.00 per head
- NOTE: All Sprinkler Head Rebates not to exceed 50% of list price
- New sprinkler heads must meet the following requirements:
- Must be installed per manufacturer’s directions
- All applicable sprinkler heads within an irrigation zone must be converted to qualify. Typically if converting to pressure regulating heads all sprinklers will need to be converted. When adding sprinkler heads with a check valve those sprinklers at the top of the zone that do not experience low head drainage need not be converted.
- Sprinklers must spray unobstructed when installed
- Pressure at the sprinklers must be within the manufacturer specifications for the sprinkler nozzles being used.
- Existing sprinklers may have to be relocated or additional sprinklers added to achieve even “head to head” coverage and to eliminate overspray in order to qualify.
Pressure Regulator
- Rebate is for installing an adjustable pressure regulator at the irrigation system’s point of connection or at an individual irrigation valve.
- The rebate is up to $150 per pressure regulation device, not to exceed 50% of the list price.
- The adjustable pressure regulator must:
- Be installed per the manufacturer’s directions.
- Be adjusted to the optimal recommended manufacturer operating pressure for the sprinkler nozzles being used.
Landscape Irrigation Sub-meter
- The rebate is for purchasing and installing a water meter (sub-meter) so that the customer can measure the irrigation water use separately from the building. The rebate is not for sub-metering separate dwelling units or separate buildings.
- The rebate is up to $300 per sub-meter, not to exceed 50% of the list price
- Meter must be installed per the manufactures specifications