Rebates to support soft water use reduction in commercial and industrial applications
Area water softeners contribute over 100,000 pounds of salt to local waterways, polluting freshwater sources. Current wastewater treatment cannot remove salt, and installing salt-removal technologies locally would be very costly and environmentally disruptive. But change is possible.
Proven methods exist to reduce water softener salt use without compromising building performance. When implemented across the community, these reductions will have a significant impact. To encourage chloride reduction, the District is offering limited-time rebates for water softener efficiency improvements and soft water reduction, leading to lower salt discharges.
Eligibility
- Building type: Commercial buildings (including multi-family residential serving three or more units) or industrial buildings. Private residences such as single-family homes, whether they are rentals or owner-occupied, are not eligible for this rebate program.
- Location: Buildings connected to the sanitary sewer within the District’s service area are eligible. (Note that this does not cover all of Dane County.)
- Timing: Projects must be completed within the 90-day period before rebate application, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.
Eligible ProjectS
| Project Type | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
Soft Water Reduction Project | |
| 1) Softener removal or replacement with salt-free alternative 2) Soft-water removal/reduction projects, such as full-line to hot-only conversion 3) Blending valve or equivalent install | Up to half of each unit or project cost with a limit of $5,000 per unit or project |
Softener Efficiency Improvement | |
| 1) Evaluation/Optimization 2) Resin Analysis 3) Softener Replacement (Resulting in an increase in salt efficiency, size reduction or the system is converted to eliminate reserve capacity.) | 1) $75 2) $200 3) Up to half of each unit or project cost with a limit of $5,000 per unit or project |
Outreach Bonus | |
| Entities willing to do education around their salt reduction project; submit information such as salt reduction estimates, testimonials, photos; and consent to this information being shared as a case study can seek an optional outreach bonus. | $500 optional incentive |
Multiple Projects
A single business/entity may apply for multiple rebates for softener improvements, including across multiple softeners and/or multiple buildings. Individual awards will generally be capped at $15,000 total per business/entity, however, the District may decide to increase the funding amount for a given application at the sole discretion of the District on a case-by-case basis.
Ineligible projects
- Salt purchase
- Addition of new softeners where none previously existed to a building
- Winter maintenance or road salt equipment
Projects that fall outside of the parameters, but which will yield significant reduction in salt use or chloride discharge to the sewerage system should consider applying for alternative chloride reduction incentive funding opportunities.
Application process
Process Overview
- Complete salt reduction work. Work is complete, building owner has paid in-full and has receipt in-hand.
- Apply for rebate. Within 90 days of completed project, submit online application and receipt(s).
- District review. Applicant will be contacted with approval or denial information by email. Approved applicants will also be contacted by the District Accounting team to collect a W9 and Vendor Form to begin payment processing.
- Reimbursement. For approved applications, payment will generally arrive within 30 days from when payment paperwork (W9 and Vendor Form) is collected. Payment will not be made, and rebate will be considered closed if the W9 and Vendor form are not received within 90 days or end of calendar year, whichever comes first.
Application requirements
Applications must be submitted within 90 days of rebate-eligible work taking place. Retroactive funding of projects outside of this timeframe will not be considered.
Proof that the upgrades have taken place, such as an itemized receipt from a vendor, or before and after plumbing diagrams must be provided as part of the application. Insufficient documentation for proof of the upgrades happening will disqualify the application.
Application evaluation
Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received until funding is exhausted annually. The District reserves the right to consider special awards in the best interest of the overall chloride reduction program.
Applications are typically reviewed within two weeks of being received, and will be evaluated based on eligibility criteria outlined above, completeness, and accuracy. All applicants will be contacted following application to notify whether the application is approved or not.
Applications that are not approved during initial evaluation may be resubmitted during the allowable timeframe, answering clarifying questions or providing more detail.
Reimbursement
For approved applications, the District Accounting team will be in touch to additionally collect a completed W9 Form and a completed District Vendor Form.
Approved rebates will not be disbursed until receipt of these two documents arrive to the District Accounting team. Once these are received, payment will generally be made within 30 days. Rebate applications will be considered closed in situations where W9 and Vendor forms have not been received within 90 days of notice of approved application, or the end of the calendar year, whichever comes first.
Questions?
For questions on the Commercial & Industrial Water Softener Rebate program, please contact our Pollution Prevention team.
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