The City of Melbourne is offering the following rebates to encourage homeowners to install water-saving features in their homes.
Rain Barrel Rebates
Residential water customers who reside within the city limits of Melbourne are eligible to participate in the city’s rain barrel rebate program. Qualifying customers will receive one $50 rebate for installing a new 40-gallon or larger rain barrel. A rain barrel can save approximately 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months. In addition to helping homeowners conserve water, rain barrels also help protect the Indian River Lagoon by reducing the amount of rainwater entering the stormwater system.
More information about the Rain Barrel Rebate program is available on the city’s website.
Rebates for Installing High-Efficiency Toilets
All City of Melbourne residential water customers who get their water bill directly from the city can receive a $50 rebate for replacing a toilet that was installed before 1994 with a new WaterSense certified high-efficiency toilet (flush rate of 1.28 gallons or less). These toilets can help homeowners save a tremendous amount of water. For example, a family of four replacing a toilet from the 1980s could expect to save approximately 25,000 gallons of water per year by installing a new WaterSense toilet.
For more information, visit the city’s website.
Composter Rebates
Residential customers who live within the city limits of Melbourne can receive up to a $50 rebate for purchasing and installing a composter that has at least a 30-gallon capacity. “Composting has many benefits for the environment,” said Jennifer Wilster, Environmental Community Outreach Manager. “Adding compost to your landscaping creates healthier soil that retains water and nutrients better and reduces the need for increased lawn irrigation and the use of fertilizers that can wash into stormdrains and pollute the Indian River Lagoon.” Composting can also help save landfill space. According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, 20 percent or more of household waste is organic material that can be composted. More
information about composting and the
Composter Rebate Program is available on the City of Melbourne website.
How to Apply for a Rebate
Rebate application packets are available by calling the Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Division at (321) 608-5080 or e-mailing
rebates@mlbfl.org. Rebates will be available until budgeted rebate funds are depleted or until September 30, 2021, whichever comes first.
