Water Smart rebate scheme

Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme

The Victorian Government and Barwon Water are committed to helping you save water. The Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme provides residential customers with a rebate on their water bill for purchasing water-saving devices. The scheme offers a range of inside and outside the home products.  The rebates scheme is administered by Barwon Water on behalf of the Victorian Government, in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Rebate products announced in July 2007 will continue to be available until 30 June 2011. A new brochure and claim form are available for the rebate scheme which applies to products bought on or after 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2011.

Rebate claim forms for products purchased prior to 30 June 2009 should be lodged with Barwon Water before 30 September 2009.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

You must be a landlord, an owner-occupier or registered tenant of a residential property who receives a regular account from Barwon Water.

If you are claiming a rebate for the rainwater tank and/or grey water system the rainwater tank and/or greywater system must be installed on a property where reticulated water is supplied.

If the total cost of any of the products, installation materials and plumber’s charges exceeds $750, a Plumbing Industry Certificate will be required from your plumber. The total cost for the purpose of the PIC certificate includes the product cost, material cost and the plumber’s charges regardless of who purchases these items.

What products can I get a rebate on and how much is the rebate?

The rebate scheme is composed of "core offer" water-saving products, as well as a "basket offer" of various water-saving products.

Core offer:

• Rainwater tank - rebate: $150

Criteria:  must be 600 litres or larger and meet all regulatory requirements.  Must be installed by a licensed plumber.  Rebate application must include a PIC Certificate of Compliance. You may purchase two tanks and still be eligible for the rebate if the two combined hold a total of 600 litres or more.

• Rainwater tank to toilet connection - rebate: $150

Criteria:  must be installed by a licensed plumber.  Rebate application must include a PIC certificate.

• Large Rainwater tank (connected for indoor use) - rebate: $500 up to $1000

Criteria:  Must be installed by a licensed plumber.  Rebate application must include a PIC Certificate of Compliance.

Rainwater Tank 2000-3999 litres, connected to toilet and/or laundry $500 rebate

Rainwater Tank 4000+ litres, connected to toilet OR laundry $900 rebate

Rainwater Tank 4000+ litres, connected to toilet AND laundry $1000 rebate

Please note that all tank and tank-to-toilet core offer rebates are only available to eligible customers in respect of existing houses where the building permit for the house was issued prior to 30 June 2005.

• Greywater permanent tank system - rebate: $500

Criteria:  must be installed by a licensed plumber.  Rebate application must include a PIC (Plumbing Industry Commission) Certificate of Compliance.  System must be EPA compliant and may require a septic tank permit (check with your council).

Please note that the guidelines for greywater systems are very specific. Systems must be non-treatment type systems which divert greywater directly to a sub-surface irrigation system.  There is a list of the eligible systems available at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au, or you can contact Barwon Water for further information.

• Dual-flush toilet retrofit - rebate: $50

Criteria:  must be installed by a licensed plumber.  A dual flush toilet uses 3 litres of water on a half flush, 6 litres on a full flush or better.  Must be a replacement of a less-efficient toilet.

• Water conservation audit - rebate $50

Criteria:  must be conducted by a licensed plumber or other professional listed at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au. To claim the $50 rebate, customers need to send in a copy of the water audit report with their claim form and an original receipt from the professional who conducted the audit.

• Hot Water recirculator - rebate $150

Criteria:  must be installed by a licenced plumber. Systems redirecting the cold water to rainwater tanks or storage for outdoor use are not eligible.

• Water-efficient shower rose - rebate $10 or $20

Criteria:   must be AAA or better. Rebate is $10 if showerhead costs between $30 and $100.  Rebate is $20 if showerhead costs more than $100. Two showerhead rebates may be claimed for each eligible property owned or occupied.

Basket offer:

There is a $30 rebate on the COMBINED VALUE over $100 of any of the following products.

One basket offer rebate is available per eligible customer per calendar year.

• flow control valve (must be 9 litres a minute or less)
• *mulch
• wetting/moisture agent
• compost/mulch bin
• moisture/rain sensor
• garden tap timer
• direct application watering system (drip/weep hose)
• trigger nozzle
• temporary grey water diverter (rubber diverter hose for insertion in domestic waste pipes)
• shower timers
• waterless car cleaners
• rainwater diverters
• toilet flush interrupter devices

(*Mulch is defined as tan bark and other wood chip type products. In general any products marketed as mulch will be accepted as eligible for the rebate, including inorganic mulch such as pebbles and scoria, etc)

How do I get my rebate?

You can claim your rebate by downloading and completing the attached claim form and forwarding it to Barwon Water together with original receipt (s) that include full details of products purchased, or certified copies of receipt(s), and where applicable the original Plumbing Industry Commission (PIC) Certificate of Compliance and/or council septic tank permit.

All rebate applications must be received by Barwon Water by 30 September 2011.

Download  Water Smart Claim Form

When will I get my rebate?

Your rebate will be credited to the next water bill after you have received a confirmation letter. If the rebate is greater than the total amount of your bill, the amount will be carried over until the total rebate is fully refunded. The rebates for Large Tanks and Permanent Greywater Systems may be reimbursed to you by cheque at your request.

Our Water Our Future Rebate Scheme brochure

Download the brochure below for a complete run down on the rebate scheme.

Download  Water Smart Brochure

Further information   www.ourwater.vic.gov.au

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