LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Los Angeles’ financial incentive for multi-family, commercial and industrial building owners who install large-scale water conservation systems was increased from $250,000 to $2 million, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday.

“At a time of historic drought, we all have a role to play in conserving water,” Garcetti said. “Through this increased rebate, building owners have an opportunity to not just save money, but help our city save millions of gallons of water every year.”

The Technical Assistance Program was expanded to offer a $2 million incentive for pre-approved cooling towers, recirculation systems, recycling microfiltration systems and other upgrades that reduce potable water use by a minimum of 50,000 gallons over two years.  

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began the program in 1992, and since then, it has provided $10 million in rebates for more than 1,000 projects, which officials estimate saves over 1.8 billion gallons of water each year. The average cooling tower project saves about 1 million gallons of water, equivalent to about $12,000 a year.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with our commercial customers to help them reduce their water and energy consumption and costs through conservation,” said Anselmo Collins, LADWP’s senior assistant general manager of the water system. “R.W. Zant Company is a great example of how a local business can take advantage of LADWP’s rebates and programs to embrace sustainable practices, and save money doing it. “

More information about the Technical Assistance Program is available at https://bit.ly/34dv3Dq.