Seminole County Launches Water Conservation Rebate Program for Utility Customers

Outdoor irrigation accounts for the largest share of residential water use across Central Florida, and Seminole County launched a rebate program April 1 that returns up to $200 to utility customers who replace aging irrigation timers with EPA WaterSense-certified smart controllers. The broader program also covers high-efficiency toilets, water-saving faucets, and showerheads.

The rebates are available exclusively to households and businesses billed directly through Seminole County Utilities. Residents who pay water bills through a city provider or private utility are not eligible. Funding for the smart irrigation controller component comes jointly from Seminole County and the St. Johns River Water Management District, which co-sponsors conservation incentives across the region.

Approved rebates are not issued as checks or direct deposits. Instead, the amount is credited against the recipient's next month's water bill, and the county limits participation to one application per service address. The program runs on a first-come, first-served basis until allocated funds are exhausted, so officials advise confirming availability before purchasing equipment.

Applicants must install a qualifying device before submitting paperwork. For smart irrigation controllers, the required documentation includes a completed and signed application form, the original sales receipt, proof of EPA WaterSense certification (typically found on product packaging or in the manufacturer's online product listing), and photographs of the old controller before removal and the new unit after installation. Applications can be submitted online through the county's Water Conservation portal or mailed to the Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate program office at 200 W. County Home Road in Sanford.

The new rebate program builds on existing conservation infrastructure the county already operates. CATO Environmental Services, a licensed Central Florida irrigation contractor the county has retained for its free Irrigation Evaluation Program, has helped document those results firsthand: 527 households that went through a professional irrigation assessment reduced their water consumption by approximately 30 percent. The rebate program extends that framework by covering the upfront equipment costs for residents who want to upgrade without waiting for an audit.

One condition applies regardless of how efficient the new equipment is: smart irrigation controller participants are still required to follow Seminole County's mandatory watering schedule under Water Conservation Ordinance #2009-24, which limits irrigation to twice per week between March and November and once per week from November through March.

County officials connected the program to Seminole County's Holistic Water Policy and drought-mitigation strategy, noting that reductions in peak-season outdoor demand relieve pressure on distribution infrastructure and can delay costly system upgrades that would otherwise be passed to ratepayers through future rate increases.

Full eligibility requirements, qualifying product lists, and application forms are available through Seminole County Environmental Services. Customers with questions can also contact the rebate program office directly at 200 W. County Home Road in Sanford.