Tampa Bay Water Wise is a regional water conservation rebate program aiming to save up to 3.8 million gallons of water per day by 2030 through rebates on water saving fixtures like water-efficient toilets and smart irrigation controllers. The program aims to defer the need to build future water supplies by saving water today.
At the end of each fiscal year, staff analyze billing data to measure the actual water savings. Fiscal year 2024 was the most successful year yet for the program, saving 690,000 gallons per day since 2020, with a 300% increase in devices installed over the previous year and more rebate dollars issued in 2024 than the previous four years combined. The cost of the program is $0.78 per thousand gallons, well below the cost of building new water supplies, which range from about $3 to $11 per thousand gallons.
Since its inception in March 2020 through Jan. 21, 2025, the program has rebated more than 23,000 devices and saved 720,000 gallons per day.
Single-family rebates have grown steadily each year, but much of the program’s success in 2024 came from multi-family rebates. In 2025, the program will focus on reaching hotels, restaurants, schools and local governments in addition to new home construction.
“Multi-family rebates have provided the most bang for our buck,” said Amelia Brown, demand management program manager at Tampa Bay Water. “And water efficiency in new construction needs to be more of a focus in our communities so that as our population grows, we are building water smart from the start.”
The Southwest Florida Water Management District supports the program with cooperative funding dollars up to $1,432,238 and has so far funded $626,943.75 toward the program. With ample funding remaining, Tampa Bay Water’s board, at its January meeting, voted to extend the timeline of the funding agreement to Dec. 31, 2025, with no additional funding needed. Tampa Bay Water has applied to the District for a new cooperative funding initiative contract for 2026.
For more information on the program and to see available rebates, visit Tampa Bay Water Wise.
