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Free low-flow toilets available

The Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District is re-launching its popular water efficiency program called the High-Efficiency Fixture Direct-Install Program.

The direct-install program provides funding for local plumbing contractors to retrofit high-efficiency toilets and other water saving devices in homes and businesses at no charge to property owners connected to the Sonoma Valley sanitation system. 

The program includes replacement of at least one high-flush toilet (3.5 gallons per flush or more) with a new high-efficiency toilet (1.1 gpf or less) from the List of Qualifying Toilet Models or replacement of at least one urinal (1.0 gallons a flush or more) with a high-efficiency urinal (0.125 gpf or less) from the agency’s List of Qualifying Urinal Models.

In addition, the program offers free replacement of all high-flow faucet aerators with new high-efficiency models (2.0, 1.5 or 0.5 gpm) and replacement of all high-flow showerheads with new high-efficiency models (1.5 gpm).

In order to participate, residents can sign up for the program by filling out a form online at www.sonomacountywater.org/direct-install or call the Water Efficiency Program at 547-1918. Funding is limited and participation is based on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Residents will receive a program packet with an invitation to participate.

The packet includes a list of participating plumbers; your unique participation number; sample documents for your review and a satisfaction survey.

Participants can select and contact their plumber from the list of participating plumbers to set up and perform an onsite eligibility verification, and to install the new fixtures andcomplete and submit the satisfaction survey.

“Now that the district is utilizing a volumetric based sewer rate system, every drop of water saved will help reduce a household’s sewer bill,” said Water Agency and Sanitation District Director Valerie Brown. “This program will also help reduce the amount of wastewater entering the district’s treatment facility on Eighth Street East. The less wastewater that enters our treatment facility, the less energy is needed to treat it. Reducing operating costs keeps our sewer rates as low as possible.”

“The Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District board is pleased to bring back this successful rebate program to its rate payers,” said Sonoma Mayor and Sanitation District Director Joanne Sanders. “We originally introduced this program in 2009 when more than 5,000 high-efficiency toilets and urinals were installed in just eight months. We hope for the same success this second time around.” 

The program was temporarily halted in 2010 after the program reached its funding limit.The program is funded in part by a grant from the California Department of Water Resources Proposition 84, Chapter 2 through the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program and by the district’s water efficiency budget.

The Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District service area covers approximately 4,500 acres and includes the City of Sonoma and the unincorporated areas of Agua Caliente, Boyes Hot Springs, Eldridge, Fetters Hot Springs, Glen Ellen, Schellville, Temelec and Vineburg.

For more information about this and other water efficiency programs, contact Water Efficiency Programs Specialist Brian Lee at 547-1918 or visit www.sonomacountywater.org/direct-install.