… how to figure out how much money you can get back fro installing a smart sprinkler system!
Most people are pretty aware that Southern California is in a water crunch and that most water districts have rebate programs that attempt to get their users to save water and money by *not* using water.
The Municipal Water District of Orange County has an especially cool program that will return the entire cost of a smart sprinkler (plus installation!) to most residents.
However, there are a few things that make this program a bit too confusing.
1) Exceptions. Five small water districts in the county are not participating (Serrano Water District, Orange Park Acres Municipal Water District, City of Seal Beach, City of La Palma, and the City of Buena Park). As long as you don’t get your water from one of those water districts, then you’re eligible for the program!
2) Money. The amount of money you can get back depends on how many water “valves” you have in your system and/or the size of your landscaping (if you have over an acre!). But here’s the good news… Many of the sprinkler systems in the county have been 6 to 8 valves, which requires just one Cyber-Rain Sprinkler Controller… and will get a refund on the entire cost of the product (plus a refund on the installation!).
3) Water Districts. There are tons of water districts in the county, and while many cities operate their own water districts, the boundaries are sometimes even blurry even in these cases.
To try to make things clearer, we put together a list that matches the City to the various water districts that serve that city (or community) in Orange County. If there’s only one water district listed behind a City, then as best as we can tell, there’s only one water district in that area that serves residential customers. In cases where there is more than one water district, we’ve done are best to list the one that serves the largest number of residents in the community. If we’re wrong about any of our assumptions, we’d love to get your feedback!
- Aliso Viejo: Moulton Niguel Water District (most likely) or El Toro Water District
- Anaheim: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (most likely) or Yorba Linda Water District
- Brea: Metropolitan Water District (most likely), California Domestic Water Company, or Yorba Linda Water District
- Buena Park: Orange County Water District (most likely), Golden State Water Co, or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Costa Mesa: Mesa Consolidated Water District (most likely), Municipal Water District of Orange County, or Metropolitan Water District
- Cypress: Golden State Water Co (most likely), Municipal Water District of Orange County, or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Dana Point: Moulton Niguel Water District (most likely), South Coast Water District, or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Dove Canyon Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Fountain Valley: Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Fullerton: Fullerton, City of (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Garden Grove: Metropolitan District of Southern California (most likely), Golden State Water Co, or Orange County Water District
- Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach, City of (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Irvine: Irvine Ranch Water District (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- La Habra: La Habra, City of (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- La Palma: La Palma, City of (most likely), Golden State Water Co, or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach County Water District (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Laguna Hills: El Toro Water District (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Laguna Niguel: Moulton Niguel Water District (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Lake Forest: Irvine Ranch Water District (most likely), El Toro Water District, or Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Los Alamitos: Golden State Water Co (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Mission Viejo: Moulton Niguel Water District (most likely) or Municipal Water District of Orange County
- Newport Beach: Newport Beach, City of (most likely), Mesa Consolidated Water District, or Irvine Ranch Water District
- Orange: Municipal Water District of Orange County (most likely), Irvine Ranch Water District, or Serrano Water District
- Placentia: Yorba Linda Water District
- Portola Hills Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Rancho Cielo Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Rancho Santa Margarita: Santa Margarita Water District
- Robinson Ranch Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Rossmoor: Golden State Water Co
- San Clemente: San Clemente, City of (most likely) or South Coast Water District
- San Juan Capistrano: San Juan Capistrano, City of
- Santa Ana: Santa Ana, City of
- Santiago Canyon Estates Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Seal Beach: Seal Beach, City of (most likely) or Golden State Water Co
- Stanton: Golden State Water Co
- Trabuco Canyon Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Trabuco Highlands Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Tustin: Tustin, City of (most likely) or Irvine Ranch Water District
- Villa Park: Serrano Water District
- Walden Community: Trabuco Canyon Water District
- Westminster: Westminster, City of
- Yorba Linda: Yorba Linda Water District
So, how much money can you get for installing a smart sprinkler controller?
As I mentioned above, it really does matter on the size of your landscape, but for standard home installations, you’ll get $60 per active valve/zone, which, if you have seven or more, will cover the entire cost of a Cyber-home controller: $399. Plus, the district will give you $200 to cover installation.
But best of all, residents who use a Cyber-Rain typically reduce water consumptions by 30 to 50%, which can really help rack up the savings.
So, how do you get your rebate? Here’s a link to an online application, as well as a link to more background on the rebate.
It’s not the simplest of application forms, so if you’re having any issues, give us a call (887-888-1452) and we be happy to help you out. We’ve been walking a number of people through this lately and can probably help you out pretty quickly! 
And finally, if you’re looking for someone to help you get a smart sprinkler installed, we’ve put together a list of smart sprinkler installers who’ve offered exceptionally great service to home owners.
I’ve been getting a lot of literature lately from Anaheim Water District. I didn’t see any rebate programs. I should look into it more closely. Thanks for the heads up!
Yeah… Sometimes the water districts are a bit funny about endorsing products. But as far as I know, the Anaheim water district is definitely taking part in the project that rebates the entire cost of the cyber-rain controller for most residential installations. There’s more info on the ConservationRebates.com website.
How long does it take to get a rebate????
I sent my rebate information in a few weeks ago.
Thank You
That is ultimately up to the discretion of the individual water distrct. Contact your water district and see where they are in the process and if they can give you a sense of how much longer it will take. Good luck!