Residential Rebates
We offer several residential rebate programs through the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) to help you conserve water:
Notes:
- Funding is limited and submitting a rebate application does not guarantee you will receive a rebate payment.
- Rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted.
- Only original receipts will be accepted as proof of purchase.
- Rebate applications and proof of purchase must be postmarked within 30 days of purchase to be eligible.
- Rebate payout amounts will never exceed the cost of the device and, if applicable, installation costs.
- Some devices or products may no longer be eligible for a rebate, and rebate amounts are subject to change.
- Please check OC WaterSmart for the latest information on qualifying devices and rebate amounts.
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Outdoor Rebates
Turf Removal Program
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and YLWD are proud to offer the Turf Removal Program to qualifying residents and businesses across Orange County. Use 50-70% less water outdoors by replacing thirsty turf grass with beautiful, climate-appropriate landscape!
- Rebates start at $2 per square foot of turf removed – the savings really adds up!
- Get paid to transform your landscape and upgrade your outdated irrigation system
- FREE customized *Design Assistance and **Maintenance programs also available to Turf Removal Program participants!
- Save water, save money, and save time on maintenance
- Attractive landscaping increases property values by 6-13%!
Rebates are limited. Apply today to take advantage of these significant benefits and more!
Terms and Conditions
Program Flyer
Rebate Application
Additional Resources
- OC Water Smart Gardens
- Helpful Turf Removal Resources
- Examples of Turf Areas that DO and DO NOT qualify for the Turf Removal Program
Landscape Design Assistance Program
- FREE landscape design from a qualified professional
- 1-on-1 onsite landscape design consultation
- Recommended plant palette
- Irrigation plan and materials list included!
Program Flyer
Apply Today!
Landscape Maintenance Assistance Program
Maintain your new landscape with professional help! MWDOC offers FREE custom landscape maintenance plans for Turf Removal Program participants to help sustain a beautiful landscape all year long!
- FREE landscape maintenance guide from a qualified professional
- 1-on-1 onsite maintenance plan consultation
- Recommended irrigation controller settings
Personalized plant care recommendation for the plants in YOUR landscape
Limited amount of free assistance so apply today!
Smart Sprinkler Timers and Central Computer Irrigation Controller Systems
Take control of your sprinkler system with a ‘smart’ irrigation timer or computer irrigation controller system. Smart Timers use information about your plants, soil, and weather conditions to give your landscape the right amount of water year-round. They allow for more accurate, customized irrigation by automatically adjusting the schedule and amount of water in response to changing weather conditions. A Smart Timer can save you from over-watering your landscape by 13,500 gallons a year while still maintaining optimal plant health. Our rebate-eligible Smart Timers are tested by independent evaluators to ensure superior performance.
Computer Irrigation Controller Systems are designed for larger irrigated areas such as golf courses, parks, schools and large commercial complexes. These systems consist of a master controller (often a computer) which tells the valves at remote locations to open and close. Most of these units can also monitor water flows to detect leaks, can tell if a valve is broken, and can adjust watering times based on the current weather.
Residential Rebate Level: $180, or more in select areas, for properties less than one acre-or- $35 per station for properties greater than one acre.
Rebates are subject to availability and retail water agency participation.
Click here for a list of residential rebate-eligible smart timer models
Residential Rebate Application
Sprinkler Nozzles
Rotating sprinkler nozzles can help you reduce harmful water runoff that flows off your landscape and eventually enters the ocean. Using multi-trajectory, rotating streams of water, rotating nozzles water more efficiently and uniformly than traditional sprinkler heads. They can reduce your outdoor water use by up to 30%.
Click here for a list of rebate-eligible rotating nozzles.
Residential Rebate Level: $2 (or more) per nozzle, with a 30 nozzle minimum.
Residential Rebate Application
A rebate program application and all of the personal information listed in it is public record and will be made available to any member of the public who requests it. By signing a rebate program application, the applicant acknowledges that applicant has no privacy expectations to this information and waives any claim to such.
Drip Irrigation
Water your landscape more efficiently and save water by converting areas irrigated by spray heads to drip irrigation. Rather than spraying wide areas, drip systems utilize point emitters to deliver water to specific locations at or near plant root zones. Water drips slowly from the emitters either onto the soil surface or below ground. As a result, less water is lost to wind and evaporation, and weed growth is minimized. Drip irrigation systems are very water-efficient and are even customizable for different plant varieties in a small area.
The Spray to Drip Rebate Program is currently available from participating water agencies for Orange County residential and commercial customers.
- Projects that are underway or already completed prior to the receipt of the “Notice to Proceed” email are not eligible to participate.
- The installed drip irrigation equipment must be listed on the Eligible Products List (found below). Only drip irrigation equipment on the Eligible Products List, as evidenced by the submission of a purchase receipt, will be eligible to receive a rebate. Microspray, point source emitters, and drippers are not rebate eligible under the Program. See samples of non-eligible equipment below under program documents.
- The conversion must replace standard spray irrigation with drip irrigation.
- A minimum of 250 square feet of irrigated area must be converted to drip irrigation.
Program Documents
- Online Application
- Eligible Products List
- Examples of Ineligible Drip Equipment
- Spray-to-Drip Program Terms and Conditions
- Drip Tubing Fact Sheet
- Spec Sheet – Example of a Drip Tubing Component Bundle
- Participation Process
Contact Information
*A rebate program application and all of the personal information listed in it is public record and will be made available to any member of the public who requests it. By signing a rebate program application, the applicant acknowledges that applicant has no privacy expectations to this information and waives any claim to such.
Soil Moisture Sensors
oil moisture sensor controllers are placed below ground in the root zones of lawns and landscapes to determine if and how long to water. They are available as stand-alone controllers or add-on devices to existing controllers. They have been shown to reduce outdoor water use by up to 70% without sacrificing the quality or health of your landscape.
Irrigation supply houses throughout Orange County (such as Ewing Irrigation, Site One, and Imperial Sprinkler Supply) carry rebate-eligible controllers.
Residential Rebate Level: Up to $80, or more in select areas, for properties less than one acre; OR $35 per station for properties at least one acre or greater.
Rebates are subject to availability and retail water agency participation.
Click here for a list of rebate-eligible residential soil moisture sensor controller models.
Residential Rebate Application
A rebate program application and all of the personal information listed in it is public record and will be made available to any member of the public who requests it. By signing a rebate program application, the applicant acknowledges that applicant has no privacy expectations to this information and waives any claim to such.
Drip Irrigation
Rain Barrel Guidelines:
- Minimum size: 50 gallons
- Rain barrel must be designed for the intended purpose of rain capture
- Should have a cover to prevent mosquitoes, rodents and debris from entering
- The rain barrel must be mounted in a way that allows the barrel to receive water unimpeded from a rain gutter
- Should not block or restrict access to walkways or pathways
- Rain barrel must not be connected to the irrigation system and must be distributed through a hose or bucket
- Should be elevated 6 inches off the ground on a solid foundation
- Should be strapped to your home for safety if the height of the barrel is two times greater than the width
- Maximum of two rain barrels per home
Cistern Guidelines:
- Property must have existing gutters throughout the entire perimeter of the roof for adequate water collection and also existing downspouts
- Cistern must be constructed out of hard, rigid plastic and must continuously hold its shape (collapsible/flexible/soft-sided cisterns are not allowed)
- Must have a capacity of at least 200 gallons/757 liters
- Can be either above ground or underground
- Should not block or restrict access to walkways or pathways
- Homemade cisterns do not qualify for rebates
- Must have a cover to prevent mosquitoes, rodents and debris from entering
- Must have an overflow spigot with mosquito netting or other prevention form
- The cistern must be mounted in a way that allows the cistern to receive all water unimpeded from a downspout
- Should be elevated 6 inches off the ground on a solid foundation
- Should be strapped to you home for safety if the height of the cistern is two times greater than the width
- Cisterns must be purchased as an entire unit
- Maximum of one cistern is allowed per home
Residential Rebate Application:
Residential Rebate Application (Rebate not available for Commercial properties) A rebate program application and all of the personal information listed in it is public record and will be made available to any member of the public who requests it. By signing a rebate program application, the applicant acknowledges that applicant has no privacy expectations to this information and waives any claim to such.
Indoor Rebates
High Efficiency Clothes Washers
Upgrade your old washing machine to a high efficiency clothes washer that uses up to 55% less water and gets clothes just as clean. Less water means less energy needed for heating water, which can help lower your energy bill as well. When almost 15% of the water used inside your home goes to doing laundry, high-efficiency savings make it a no-brainer!
Click here for a list of rebate-eligible clothes washer models.
Residential Rebate Level: $85 (or more)
Residential Rebate Application
(Rebate not available for Commercial properties)
A rebate program application and all of the personal information listed in it is public record and will be made available to any member of the public who requests it. By signing a rebate program application, the applicant acknowledges that applicant has no privacy expectations to this information and waives any claim to such.
Premium High Efficiency Toilets
As of November 11, 2015, rebate incentives are no longer available for High Efficiency Toilets rated at 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf). Rebates are now available for Premium High Efficiency Toilets using 4-liters (1.06gpf) or less, and are offered at $40 per toilet.
The largest amount of water used inside – 30% – goes toward flushing the toilet. But how much water your toilet actually needs to flush properly is less than you think!
Replace your old toilets with premium high efficiency toilets that use just 1.06 gallons or less per flush. Premium high efficiency toilets use almost 20% less water than the WaterSense standard and flush the same amount of waste just as, if not more, effectively.
Home improvement stores throughout Orange County carry rebate-eligible toilets.
Residential Rebate Level: $40 (or more) per toilet.
Click here for a list of rebate-eligible residential premium high efficiency toilet models
Frequently Asked Questions List
Residential Rebate Application
A rebate program application and all of the personal information listed in it is public record and will be made available to any member of the public who requests it. By signing a rebate program application, the applicant acknowledges that applicant has no privacy expectations to this information and waives any claim to such.
