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City Flushing Toilet Rebate Program

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

TAMPA - The city's popular toilet rebate program is circling the drain, another casualty of budget cuts at City Hall.

The program gave Tampa residents and commercial customers rebates of up to $100 if they replaced their 3.5 gallon or larger tanks with ultra-low-flow models that use 1.5 gallons or less per flush.

The city spent a couple of hundred thousand dollars a year on the program. With a tight budget and a decision to focus on outdoor rather than indoor water conservation efforts, however, the toilet program is ending, said Eli Franco, water distribution division manager.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District also chipped in $110,000 annually, said Robyn Hanke, a district spokeswoman.

"They reached saturation," Hanke said. "They don't have many pre-1995 toilets they need to fund."

Toilets constructed after 1995 generally use low-flow fixtures. For years, the new models were the butt of jokes over complaints water savings were negated because the toilets often had to be flushed repeatedly.

Tampa's program started 14 years ago. About 37,000 toilets have been replaced.

The funding hasn't completely dried up yet. Those wanting to apply for a rebate can call (813) 288-8805 or go to www.utilityrebates.com/ tampaonlineulftapp.

To be eligible, application requests must be received by Feb. 15.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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