If you are looking to do your bit to save water in Tamworth, you may be able save some money while you're at it.
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Tamworth Regional Council is offering financial assistance to residents who install waterwise products in and around their home and businesses through its Water Saver Rebate Scheme.
Ceiling fans, showerheads and rainwater tanks all feature on the recently extended list - council voted to extend the list on December 18, 2019 - of products available on the rebate scheme.
The below products are eligible for rebates from December 18, 2019.
Residential, business and commercial rebates
Plumbers Audit
Rebate: 50% or up to $100
- A property water efficiency audit must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber
- The Waterwise Plumber's Audit Checklist and plumbers invoice must be attached to the rebate application
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
Showerhead
Rebate: 50% or up to $20 each
- Minimum 3 star WELS rating
- Can claim multiple showerheads
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
Oxijet
Rebate: 50% or up to $20 each
- Uses aeration technology to volumise the water flow, giving you a more luxurious shower and powerful spray, while reducing water consumption
- Can claim multiple Oxijets
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
Swimming Pool Cover
Rebate: 50% or up to $100
- Must be a Smart Approved Watermark cover
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
Dual Flush Toilet
Rebate: 50% or up to $150
- Cistern and bowl (cistern only replacement not covered under rebate)
- Minimum 3 star WELS rating
- Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber
- Can claim multiple dual units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Toilet with cistern sink
Rebate: 50% or up to $200 each
- Water used at the sink mounted on the cistern drains into the cistern for reuse when flushing.
- Must be a dual flush cistern
- Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber
- Can claim multiple units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Greywater Diversion System (GDS)
Rebate: 50% or up to $150
- A GDS diverts used water from showers, bath, basins and laundries. Greywater can be used for subsurface dripper system and the water is not or must not be stored
- For more information on GDS please refer to Council's Recycling Greywater Fact Sheet
- The GDS is required to be an approved WaterMark system as a whole. You cannot build your own system using individual certified WaterMark components
- Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Greywater Treatment System (GTS)
Rebate: 50% or up to $800
- A GTS diverts used water from showers, bath, basin and laundries and it is treated by a controlled natural process to purify the wastewater suitable for reuse. It can be used for toilet flushing, washing machine or surface irrigation.
- For more information on GTS please refer to Council's
- Recycling Greywater Fact Sheet
- Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Applicant must provide a copy of the written confirmation or a permit approval from Council for either an approved system or an exempt system with the rebate application form
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Pool Backwash Recycling System (PBRS)
Rebate: 50% or up to $250
- Recycles swimming pool backwash water which otherwise goes down the drain. It is easily installed during pool construction or as an attachment to already existing sand filtered systems
- The PBRS is required to be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Installation must be undertaken by and signed off on by a qualified pool technician
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Waterblade Tap
Rebate: 50% or up to $10 each
- Takes a trickle of water and transforms it, making it many times more useful for washing your hands by shaping the water into a 'jellyfish' shape, or is a paper thin sheet of water that is as wide as your hand
- The Waterblade tap is required to be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Can claim multiple units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Low Flow or Sensor Tap
Rebate: 50% or up to $50 each
- Sensor tap turns on when hands are moving underneath them
- Low flow tap that has a very reduced flow
- Minimum 3 star WELS rating
- Can claim multiple
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Hot Water System Diverter (Return)
Rebate: 50% or up to $50 each
- System that automatically diverts the cooled hot water in a property's hot water pipes when not in use and sends it back into the cold water line, rainwater tank, or other storage tank, instead of otherwise flowing down the drain
- The system is required to be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Installation must be completed and signed off by a licenced plumber
- Can claim multiple
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Tree Well Water Saver
Rebate: 50% or up to $2 each
- Plastic well placed around base of tree to focus water around roots system rather than running away
- The system is required to be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Can claim multiple units
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Shower Controller Device
Rebate: 50% or up to $50 each
- Electronic system that pre-sets the length of shower times and/or the provision of hot water
- The system is required to be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Can claim multiple units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Ceiling Fan
Rebate: 50% or up to $50 each
- Permanently installed ceiling fan in an indoor room that has an evaporative air conditioning duct to offset and reduce evaporative air conditioning use and water consumption
- Properties with reverse cycle air conditioning are not eligible for the rebate as this is an initiative to reduce water consumption from evaporative coolers
- Must be completed and signed off by a licensed electrical contractor
- Can claim multiple units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Small Rainwater Tank
Rebate: 50% or up to $200
- 2,000 - 4,999 Litre rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
- Must be connected to toilet and/or laundry to offset use of the treated water supply at any time
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
- Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
- If using rainwater for other purposes, tank must have a rainwater only tap that cannot be switched to the treated supply. If tank does not have rainwater only tap, Council cannot supply sign for outdoor use
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Medium rainwater tank
Rebate: 50% or up to $800
- 5,000 - 9,999 rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
- Must be connected to toilet and/or laundry to offset use of the treated water supply at any time
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
- Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
- tap that cannot be switched to the treated supply. If tank doesn't have rainwater only tap Council cannot supply sign for outdoor use
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Large rainwater tank
Rebate: 50% or up to $1000
- 10,000 Litre or above rainwater tank or total interconnected volume
- Must be connected to toilet and/or laundry to offset use of the treated water supply at any time
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Rebate paid on total interconnected tank volume per property
- Secondary installation application for rebate will only be assessed on the volume of the new tank and a review of the overall volume will be undertaken to determine optimum viability rain water volume per property against seasonal rainfall
- If using rainwater for other purposes, tank must have a rainwater only tap that cannot be switched to the treated supply. If tank does not have rainwater only tap Council cannot supply sign for outdoor use
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Business and commercial only rebates
Commercial Paint Brush Cleaner Unit
Rebate: 50% or up to $150
- Portable brush cleaner that can be used to clean up to 8 paint brushes at once in up to 10 litres of water as alternative to traditional cleaning methods and using half the volume of water
- Must be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Commercial Steam Cleaner Description and T&C's
Rebate: 50% or up to $200
- Steam cleaning systems using steam rather than water flow to clean surfaces. There are various models that can be applied in the health, contract cleaning, automotive, industrial, animal care and education industries.
- Must be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Commercial Chemical Cleaner Description and T&C's
Rebate: 50% or up to $200
- Replaces steam cleaning and uses less water. Combines chemical action and mechanical agitation to effectively remove soil particles from carpet fibres.
- Must be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Waterless Urinal Description and T&C's
Rebate: 50% or up to $150 each
- Male urinal units using no water to flush
- Must be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Can claim multiple units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Commercial Pre Rinse Spray/Mixer/Nozzle Ware Description and T&C's
Rebate: 50% or up to $150 each
- Efficient water application systems for business and commercial operations such as restaurants, takeaway shops, hairdressers, etc.
- Must be a Smart Approved WaterMark system for the rebate
- Can claim multiple units
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Commercial dishwasher / glasswasher Description and T&C's
Rebate: 50% or up to $250
- Recirculating low water consumption washers for food, hospitality, aged care or educational facilities
- Must be either a Smart Approved WaterMark system or minimum of 6 star WELS rating
- Rebate paid on hardware not installation costs
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
Commercial Washing Machine Description and T&C's
Rebate: 50% or up to $500
- Water efficient commercial machine potentially using 40% less water
- More information on the T&C's on eligibility for this rebate to come soon. Rebate is not guaranteed until the T&C's are confirmed
- Each application will be assessed on an individual basis to ensure a reasonable outcome for the resident and Council as public funding body and reserves the right to reject applications on a case by case basis
- Properties must be connected to the treated town water supply to be eligible for rebate
- Item eligible from 18 December 2019 as per Council Report approval, anything dated prior is not eligible
More information can be found on the Tamworth Regional Council website.