Government
BY GRACE DICKENS
LCRA expands rebates for home water conservation projects the summer is used outdoors depending on the region, about 50% of which is wasted partially due to overwatering, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024. What’s covered Part of the WaterSmart program, the LCRA now offers higher maximum rebates on water-saving projects.
The Lower Colorado River Authority is expanding its water conservation rebate program from $600 to $3,000 per eligible residential property annually, the organization announced in a news release July 1. The details Rebates cover the cost of materials but not labor or taxes, according to the news release. The rebates are available to most businesses and residents that receive water from an LCRA firm water customer. It’s also available to domes- tic use LCRA customers with contracts to draw water directly from the Highland Lakes, the news release states. This includes cities such as Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Pflugerville and Leander, alongside munic- ipal utility districts such as the Lakeway MUD, Hurst Creek MUD and several Travis county MUDs. The context About 30-60% of the water homeowners use in
Original rebate
New rebate
Of the 29 billion gallons of water used daily in households across the U.S., about 9 billion gallons are used outdoors primarily for irrigating landscapes, according to the EPA. The EPA also estimates that a single broken sprinkler head could result in up to 25,000 gallons of water being wasted over six months of irrigation. “We hope these rebates encourage residents to use technology and take other measures to cut back on outdoor water use, which saves both water and money,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water. Rebates for water conservation from the LCRA are also available for businesses, schools and other institutions. Residents can sign up at www.lcra.org/ water/watersmart.
Type of improvement
Mechanical aeration
$100 $200
Compost and mulch
$600 $1,000
Converting turf grass to native garden beds or drought-tolerant landscapes
$600 $2,000
Rebates are also available on: • Soil moisture and rain sensors • Irrigation system evaluations • Pressure-reducing heads, nozzles, valves and in-line regulators • WaterSense smart controllers • Pool filters and covers • Soil testing SOURCE: LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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