The City of Wichita is continuing its annual Water Conservation Rebate Program, offering rebates to residents who purchase water-saving appliances and devices.
The program began in 2013 and has paid over $1.6 million for 17,279 water-saving units, which are estimated to have saved a total of 481 million gallons of water. Public Works Director Gary Janzen said the program has recently saved 10 to 12 million gallons of water a year, and it is more important in the city’s efforts to conserve water during the ongoing drought.
The city limited the rebates to outdoor devices only in 2024, including rain barrels, rain sensor shutoff devices, and smart irrigation controls. The program didn’t get the expected response, so indoor devices are being added back to the program for this year. The indoor devices would include water-saving dishwashers, washing machines and toilets, toilet repair kits, and dual flush conversion kits. The rebates offered are $50 or $100, depending on the device.
Janzen said the program this year will provide water-saving shower heads and sink aerators, and they will be available one-per-person on a first-come, first-served basis at City Hall, neighborhood resource centers and library locations. It’s expected that the city will have about 1,000 of each item to give away.
The Wichita City Council approved a budget of $150,000 for the program, with $110,000 for customers with a residential water account with the city, $30,000 for wholesale customers to administer their own conservation programs, and $10,000 to purchase the shower heads and aerators.
