Cities trade money for water savings

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The city of Santa Fe is offering big incentives to residents who go green with water-saving appliances and collection systems.

Albuquerque, too, offers credits for water-saving toilets, but Santa Fe is about to expand its program.

“We process over 500 rebates a year.” City Water Conservation Manager Daniel Ransom said.

City Councilors just approved an overhaul of the rebate system. Ransom said the new savings could be as much as hundreds of dollars.

“Only the Tier 3 washing machine, the most efficient machine, the rebate will go up to $480,” he said.

Tier 3 machines will be the only washer to get a rebate under the new system. High efficiency toilets, water harvesting systems and more are included in the rebates.

They go into effect Jan. 1. The city is also backing program to save residents cash at the check out.

Homewise, a non-profit organization in Santa Fe, haggles and buys and in bulk from major retailers using money from city, state and federal grants.

“There is the green that is good for the environment, and there is green that is good for your wallet." Michael Loftin with the company said. The savings aren't just up front, he added.

“If you get a front-loading washing machine you're saving about 25 gallons a load," he continued. "That's a lot of water; that’s about 10,000 gallons in a year of water for a family of four.”

Ransom said the city is offering these incentives now to protect the future.

“Up to 50 percent of Santa Fe’s water is from the reservoirs, which is a replenishable supply," he said. "But when we were in the droughts a few years back and that water pretty much ran out, we were very short on supply.”

Right now reservoirs are 75 percent full, but the city wants to continue to cut usage and hopes getting businesses involved is the answer.

“It's open to businesses, and it's not restricted to any certain rebate," Ransom said. "What we are going to do is case-by-case.”

The city of Albuquerque also offers a $100 rebate on water bills if you install a low-flow toilet and $200 for residential and commercial high-efficiency toilets. Information on the credit is available from the city of Santa Fe Web site.

Additional information:

• City of Santa Fe
• Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
• Homewise