Cobb County Water System
As one of the first utilities to join WaterSense, Cobb
County Water System has been paving the way for the WaterSense label
in Georgia since 2007, and not a moment too soon. In 2001, the state
of Georgia mandated its regional water districts to develop water
conservation plans that would help address water supply needs for
the state’s growing population, as well as water rights and
use issues with neighboring states. By 2007, these objectives were
urgent. Georgia faced extreme drought and quickly needed to find
a solution to diminishing water supplies. In response to the North
Georgia Regional Water District’s 2003 conservation plan,
Cobb County launched a toilet rebate program in October 2007, coinciding
with the day its water district declared Drought Level 4, the most
severe classification. Since that time, Cobb County has issued 1,128
rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets and 2,048 rebates for 1.6-gallon-per-flush
(gpf) toilets, saving the county an estimated 31.4 million gallons
of water per year and easing the strain on municipal water supplies.
Cobb County’s rebate program soon achieved even greater influence
when the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District adopted
the program for the entire district, which includes Atlanta, 16
counties, and more than 60 water utilities. As a result, the program
now targets more than 2 million customers.
Customers stand to benefit, too. Rebate participants are saving
approximately $70.50 per year by reducing 10,000 gallons of water
per household per year. The tiered rebate program credits customers’
water bills directly: $50 for 1.6-gpf toilets and $100 for WaterSense
labeled toilets (less than 1.3 gpf). Cobb County Water System initially
included 1.6-gpf toilets until WaterSense labeled models became
more readily available. County officials hope to phase out rebates
for 1.6-gpf toilets by the end of 2009.
Effective outreach has been crucial to Cobb County’s success
in bringing WaterSense labeled toilets to the region. Early on,
Cobb County contacted major retailers, including Home Depot and
Lowe’s to encourage them to stock the toilets on its rebate
list. To increase demand for WaterSense labeled toilets, the county
educated consumers through its Web site and numerous public presentations.
This allowed consumers one-on-one time to discuss the rebate program
and WaterSense labeled toilets, which also built brand recognition.
The media also drove home the water-efficiency message in print,
radio, and television. By effectively building a market base and
a steady supply of WaterSense labeled toilets in the area, Cobb
County ensured its rebate program would have a significant impact
and bring real change to the region.
Kathy Nguyen, water-efficiency program manager for Cobb County
Water System, relates the success of the rebate program to the WaterSense
label, saying, “WaterSense has made it easy for us by providing
tools and resources to use for our rebate program. We’ve also
found value in utilizing a national brand with consistent messaging,
which makes it easier for our customers to identify products that
are third-party certified for water efficiency and performance.”
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