Washington County offering rebates for water-saving sprinkler timers

ST. GEORGE — Residents of Washington County could get up to a $75 rebate if they update their sprinkler timers to a more water-saving model.

Residents can purchase one of the water saving timers listed on the Washington County Water Conservancy District website (www.wcwcd.org/conservation/rebates/), send in pictures of their new and old timer and receipt, and get up to a $75 check in the mail.

Despite recent monsoon rains, Southern Utah is still in a drought and water conservation is a high priority for the county government. Running sprinklers on rainy days uses a lot of unnecessary water, and because of Southern Utah’s unpredictable monsoon rains it can be difficult to remember to shut them off.

The county wants homeowners to switch to the smart sprinkler timers because some models will automatically shut off on rainy monsoon days and can be controlled from anywhere using a smartphone app.

One day without sprinkler use can save homeowners and the entire county a lot of water. “All of a sudden you take one of our highest day water uses and almost automatically drop it to a low-water day,” said Zach Renstrom, General Manager of the WCWCD.

The WCWCD estimates that one of the smart controller sprinkler timers could save up to 8,800 gallons of water per year, about as much as a full tank on a fuel truck.

Renstrom says the smart controllers are pretty easy to install, saying “If you have any type of handy skills most homeowners can do it pretty quickly.” Renstrom also said there are plenty of rebates available for anyone in the county who wants one.

The WCWCD is currently recommending homeowners only water their lawn three times a week. “Your lawn will look a little distressed,” said Renstrom. But the yellow lawns around town are a sign that people are following the drought recommendations.

If you have questions about your personal lawn watering situation, the WCWCD offers a “water audit” where a representative will inspect your property and make specific recommendations for your yard.

Renstrom says in the last 20 years, Washington County has reduced its water usage by 30% because of programs like the sprinkler timer rebate. “It’s really neat to see how awesome the citizens of Washington County are,” said Renstrom. “They want to be good stewards of our area.”