City offering rebates on water timers

With a change in Carson City's water code that bans outdoor watering on certain days, homeowners throughout the city suddenly find themselves in need of new equipment that can be rigged to comply with the city's rules. City supervisors voted Thursday to help out, a little, by partially reimbursing residents for buying new equipment.

In summers past, Carson City water restrictions allowed people to water their lawns and shrubs every other day. Homeowners bought timers that could be hooked up to sprinklers and set to come on within the limits.

But many of those timers won't work with the new water restrictions, which are set to take effect June 1.

Seeing a need to take a day off from watering so the city's aquifers and water storage tanks could be replenished, a new code was passed this year that prohibits watering on Mondays and regulates watering on Tuesday through Sunday based on address numbers - a schedule too complicated for many older timing systems.

"I think the city has some obligation (to help) when they're changing the way things are," said Carson City resident Lee Radtke.

"We have a lot of retired people who don't have the income to be changing these boxes whenever you change codes."

Carson City Public Works Director Tom Hoffert proposed a rebate plan where the city would reimburse homeowners up to $50 for the purchase of a new timer system with up to eight watering stations, or up to $75 for a system with more than eight stations.

With only $10,000 to spare for the rebate program, however, only an estimated 200 residents could be helped, said Supervisor Richard Staub, and everyone else wouldn't be too happy. The compromise approved by supervisors Thursday was a rebate for 20 percent of a new system's cost, up to $50 or $75 for the larger station.

The systems, which can be purchased at most hardware stores, range in price from $20 to several hundred dollars, Hoffert said, with many costing around $40 or $50.

Public works officials are still solidifying how to administer the program but Hoffert said applications for the rebate program will be on the Carson City Web site, www.carson-city.nv.us, as soon as Monday. Residents can also call the city's "water watch" personnel at 887-2355 to apply.

- Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

How to apply

Applications for the rebate program will be on the Carson City Web site, www.carson-city.nv.us, as soon as Monday. Residents can also call the city's "water watch" personnel at 887-2355 ext. 1025 to apply.

Carson City outdoor-watering restrictions

• No watering on Mondays

• Odd-numbered addresses may water before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

• Even-numbered addresses may water before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Restrictions are in effect from June 1 to Oct. 1.