THOUSAND OAKS : City OKs Rebates for Low-Flush Toilets

Some Thousand Oaks residents can get rebates for having their water-guzzling toilets replaced, under a pilot program approved by the City Council.

In the program approved unanimously Tuesday night, customers are eligible to receive a $100 rebate for installing a new toilet in their homes.

The pilot program is being financed by Thousand Oaks, its supplier, the Calleguas Municipal Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

The City Council agreed to contribute $70,240 for the program.

Two other private water companies that also serve customers in Newbury Park and the Westlake area of Thousand Oaks have also agreed to participate in the program.

Rebates will only be available for 1,440 single-family houses. Of the 13,000 customers in Thousand Oaks who are eligible for the rebates, about 10,000 are single-family homeowners.

Customers can also get rebates if they installed a low-flush toilet as long ago as February.

By promoting the use of low-flush toilets, or those designed to use 1.6 gallons or less of water, city officials say Thousand Oaks residents can save about 70 gallons a day or about $3 a month on their water bills.

Residents are already required to cut back at least 20% from the same period last year or face penalties under a mandatory water conservation ordinance adopted earlier this year.

City Utilities Director Don Nelson said the continued drought means that Thousand Oaks residents will probably have to continue conserving through the end of next year.

“The water supply picture is not improving,” Nelson said.