Using water wisely is paying off for Manteca residents.
Reduced water use during the first eight months of this year kept $1.8 million in the pockets of Manteca residents and business. That is based on roughly a 28 percent water savings over the water consumption level for the same January through August period of 2013.
And the savings are going to get better for 663 Manteca households that have taken advantage of the City of Manteca’s rebate programs that offer $100 for those who buy high efficiency washing machines and $75 for high efficiency toilets. The city has doled out $59,500 from the water enterprise fund since July 2015 to encourage households to save water.
That means those households will further cut their water bills given that washing clothes and flushing the toilet— along with bathing or showering — are the top three uses of water inside homes. Outside landscape and lawn irrigation accounts for well over half of the water use of a typical Manteca household. The city also has rebates for those that want to convert turf into low water use landscapes.
“Water is a limited resource,” noted City Manager Elena Reyes.
And while Reyes points out Manteca thanks to long-range planning has secured surface and ground water to meet current and future needs to be in “good shape” under normal conditions, she emphasized wise use of water makes sense for everyone.
“Of course we still are in a drought,” Reyes said in emphasizing why water conservation is critical.
Manteca Public Works Director Mark Houghton lauded residents for working diligently to follow water conservation rules to cut water even with municipal growth. He pointed out that most Manteca residents have adjusted their water use to keep yards green and healthy.

You can get a toilet
for a net cost of
$20 in Manteca
Based on the lowest priced high efficiency toilets available at Home Depot and Orchard Supply Hardware that meet city requirements, you can buy a new for as low as $20 net including sales tax.
As an example, Home Depot has a Glacier Bay toilet that meets the criteria for $88.
Tax would bring the cost to just under $95. Toss in the $75 city rebate and you will have a toilet that not only costs just $20 but will start saving you money on monthly water bills.
The city has paid out 378 toilet rebates since July 1, 2015. There are 18 toilet rebates currently being process with enough funds in the current budget for 370 rebates for the balance of the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2017.
To secure a rebate you must be a City of Manteca water customer. It applies to dual flush and high efficiency toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush. Rebates can’t exceed the price of the toilet and the toilet must be purchased from a business located within Manteca’s city limits.
There is a limit of two rebates per customer in a 3-year period. The City Council has opened up the program to landlords as well. Toilets used for new construction are not eligible for the rebate program.
Rebate forms are available at the Civic Center in the city clerk’s office lobby or online at www.ci.manteca.ca.us.
The rebates are on a first come, first served basis.
The $100 rebate for high efficiency clothes washers has the same general rules as for toilets. The washers must have a water factor of 7.l or less.
The city has issued 302 rebate checks for washers since July 1, 2015. There are three rebates that are currently being processed. There are enough funds left for the city to issue 278 more rebate for washing machines through June 30, 2017.

Up to $1,300 for
replacing lawns
Manteca residents can get up to $1,300 in cash rebates to replace high water use front yard lawns with more efficient landscaping.
The city provides $1 per square foot up to 650 square feet to homeowners willing to switch out turf for landscaping hat reduces water demands and is better suited for the local climate. The state still has funds available to match Manteca dollar for dollar.
The Lawn-to-Garden Rebate Program last fiscal year processed more than 120 applications replacing more than 82,000 square feet of lawn or the equivalent area of 13 average sized residential lots representing more than 360,000 square feet of turf.
Currently 17 homeowners are seeking turf replacement rebates for 13,940 square feet. From July 1 to Sept. 8 of this year $2,112 in rebates has been paid by the city for the replacement of 2,566 square feet of turf.
The city also has a turf replacement rebate program for commercial users.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com