What is the current status of the SoCal Water$mart rebate program?

Program extension confirmed through July 30, 2012. There will be no downtime and the same product rebates will be offered for the new program period starting July 1, 2011.

Funding is limited and submitting a rebate application does not guarantee you will receive payment.  Rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted.  Please check our website homepage for status of available funding.

Who is eligible to receive rebates?

Only residential water customers of participating MWD member water agencies are eligible for SoCal Water$mart rebates.  Residential water customers are those living in houses or apartments, townhomes, condominiums or mobile home complexes with four or less dwellings that are NOT represented by a homeowners association or property management company.

Limit one rebate application per product category, per address. If you have already received a rebate through your water service provider for a qualifying device, you may not apply again for the same product category.

Multifamily customers are eligible to receive clothes washer rebates through this program. These include apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and mobile homes with five dwellings or more, as well as properties that are represented by a homeowners association or a property management company.

If you pay your water bill through a Home Owner's Association (HOA) or if you do not receive a water bill because you are a multi-family building customer, you can still apply through this program. Please fill out the online application, leave the water agency account number field blank and write a note on your paperwork stating that you do not receive a water bill because of your status. We will obtain the verification of your water service eligibility directly from your water agency,

Multifamily landscape product rebates must be processed through the Save Water Save a Buck commercial rebate program at www.mwdsaveabuck.com.

Contractors or other third parties are not eligible for rebates.

What is required to receive a rebate?

As of June 1, 2010, the program offers applications only online via this website on the "Get Your Rebate" page.

Once completed, mail the following within 60 days of online application confirmation:

1. A copy of the printout of the rebate application confirmation page
2. Sales receipt or invoice from your contractor that includes brand, model and price of the qualifying rebate device
3. A copy of your water bill

Mail to:
SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program
3800 Watt Ave., Suite 105
Sacramento, CA 95821

If you are a multifamily customer and your name is not on the water bill, please call our hotline at: 1-888-376-3314.

Is there a limit on how many rebates I can receive?

If a customer address has ever received a water agency rebate for the same type of device, the customer is not eligible to receive another rebate.

How much is my rebate?

Baseline product requirements and rebate amounts are as follows:

• High-efficiency clothes washers (4.0 Water Factor or less): $85
• Rotating nozzles: $3/nozzle, minimum of 15
• Weather-based irrigation controllers (models tested under the Irrigation Association’s Smart Water Application Technology [SWAT] protocols)
  • Less than 1 acre: $80
  • 1+ acre: $25/station

High-efficiency toilet rebates are no longer offered through the program. You can review the list of qualifying agencies that are offering High Efficiency Toilet rebates. These applications may be submitted via the standard online program application located on Get Your Rebate. Other local agencies may offer HET rebates at a future time; check the website periodically or call your local water agency for more information.

Note: not all qualifying products may be clearly marked in stores.  Please consult the Qualifying Products lists to find the most recent lists of qualifying models.  Also, some participating member water agencies may add funding to the baseline rebate amount. To see details on your water agency’s offerings, visit Estimate Your Rebate.

I made a qualifying product purchase before June 1st but have not submitted my rebate application.  Can I still receive a rebate?

No.  All purchases made prior to June 1, 2010 are ineligible for rebate funding.

What is the status of my rebate?

Call the hotline for an update at: (888) 376-3314.  Please have your application number ready.

What are the hotline's hours?

The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm PT.

Why do you need a copy of my water bill?

A copy of your water bill will help verify that you are a customer of a participating water agency and eligibility.  In addition, some agencies provide higher rebate amounts.  By verifying your water provider, we can be sure to issue the correct amount. A letter from the retail water agency is acceptable as an alternative to a copy of the water bill if you do not have one available.

Renters may be eligible to participate with written consent of property owner, however the renter’s name must be on the water bill. An explanation is required if the rebate check is to be issued to a different name. Call the program hotline if you have questions: 1-888-376-3314.

My water agency only bills every three months, and I don’t have my current bill.  Can I still receive a rebate?

You do not have to submit a current bill.  A recent water bill that shows your name, address, and account number will be acceptable.  If you do not have any copies of your earlier water bills, we can accept a letter from your water agency verifying your status and account number.

I’m part of a homeowners association that pays my water bill.  Can I still receive a rebate?

You are eligible to receive rebates through this program if you are part of a homeowners association and your name is on the water bill. However, if you are part of a homeowner’s association but your name is not on the water bill, please contact the program to determine your eligibility.

Can I still receive a rebate if my model is not listed on your website?

No.  Only products that meet the stated eligibility criteria qualify for a rebate.  Many products have similar model numbers, but only the exact models on the list will qualify.  There are instances where new products are not yet on our list; those models may qualify, but there will likely be a delay in processing until the product list is updated (typically monthly).  We recommend that applicants visit the Qualifying Products page to verify eligibility prior to or at the time of purchase.

Can I receive a rebate if I purchase qualified products through a contractor?

Yes.  If your contractor purchases devices for you, be sure to get a paid-in-full invoice that you can use as your receipt to accompany the rebate application.  Please note that your contractor is not eligible to receive rebates.

Do products purchased through a third-party website qualify for rebates?

Qualifying products purchased online through a third party website (EBay, Amazon) and installed at a residence within a participating water district are eligible for rebate funds provided that the product purchased can be verified as new and in its original packaging at time of purchase. Applications concerning a product purchased on a third-party website must be submitted with a receipt or confirmation identifying the item as new.

Can my rebate check be less than the estimated rebate amount provided to me online?

Yes. If the actual cost of the device is less than the estimated rebate amount. The rebate amount for each device is established at the beginning of the program year based on current costs of water efficient products in each category. As water saving technology improves and the market expands, the actual cost of some devices can decrease rapidly. Metropolitan and many of its member agencies cap rebates at the actual cost of each device.

When a rebate application is submitted online, the program does not have the actual price paid for the device. As a result, the estimated rebate amount is based on the full rebate amount available. However, when the SoCal Water$mart program receives the purchase documentation, the rebate amount is finalized using the customer's actual cost incurred for the device. If the price the customer paid is less than the rebate amount, the rebate may be capped at an amount lower than the estimated rebate amount provided during the online application process.