Sangre de Cristo offers a $504 rebate to commercial customers who buy a new high-efficiency toilet with an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons or less, replacing an existing high water use toilet with a flush volume of 1.6 gallons or more, between January 1, 2010, and July 18, 2010.

The City administered a retrofit program through the Water Budget Administrative Office (WBAO), which provided for free replacement of “high-flush” toilets with low-flush models (1.6 gallons per flush).  As of January 1, 2010, this program is no longer available.

Between January 1, 2010, and July 18, 2010, rebates are available to all water customers who purchase a new high-efficiency toilet and replace an existing higher water use toilet (1.6 gallons per flush or higher).

By installing an HET with the highest level of water efficiency, you maximize savings.  This means greater savings on your water bill as well as reducing the amount of wastewater that needs to be treated.

The City has been very successful with installing first-generation “Low-Flow” toilets.  In fact, so successful that toilets to retrofit were running out.  The “High-Efficiency” (HET) program offers an incentive to install the most efficient toilets on the market today; saving an additional 20 percent more water when replacing a low flush toilet.

There are approximately 37 brands with hundreds of models to choose from.

The contractor or plumber that installs the toilet is responsible for guaranteeing a satisfactory installation and honoring the warranty.

To qualify for the HET Rebate you must:

• purchase and install a new high-efficiency toilet with an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons or less between January 1, 2010, and July 18, 2010
• be a water customer of Sangre de Cristo at the property where the toilet is installed
• replace an existing high water use toilet (1.6 gallon per flush or higher)

No, the rebates are for the conversion of old high water use appliances and fixtures to more efficient ones and does not apply to purchases for new construction and development.

To claim your rebate you must:

• read and accept the terms and conditions
• complete the HET rebate application form
• attach the original receipt for the HET (please note, photocopies are not accepted)
• send your completed application form and original receipt to:

Sangre de Cristo Water Division
Clothes Washer Rebate
PO Box 909
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909

No, there is a limit of one rebate per retrofit.

Subject to verification, you should receive your rebate payment within 90 days of Sangre de Cristo receiving your application. Rebate payments will be in the form of a credit on your utility bill.

Application forms are available in local retail outlets, Sangre de Cristo Water Division, or you can download the application form here.

The toilet must have an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons or less to be eligible. To confirm which toilets qualify for the rebate, look for the WaterSense label, check the list of approved toilets at WaterSense, or check the list of eligible flushometer valve/bowl combinations listed here.

The water-efficiency component of the specification establishes a maximum effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons per flush for all HETs.  This value represents a 20 percent reduction from the current 1.6 gallons per flush standard.  Under this specification, an HET can meet the effective flush volume criteria by two ways:

• Single flush toilets must use 1.28 per flush or less; or
• Dual flush toilets must have a full flush of no more than 1.6 gallons per flush and a reduced flush of no more than 1.1 gallons per flush.

Recent advancements have allowed toilets to use 20 percent less water than the current federal standard (1.6 gallons per flush), while still providing equal or superior performance.