Built a house last year with rainwater capture—wish the city gave more than just a pat on the back for that kind of thing.
That’s the part that gets me. Folks invest in real solutions, like rainwater systems, and all they get is a “good job” from the city. Meanwhile, someone else just tweaks their watering schedule and gets a rebate? Doesn’t add up. Real-time tracking would help, but unless cities actually reward infrastructure upgrades, it feels like we’re missing the point.
unless cities actually reward infrastructure upgrades, it feels like we’re missing the point.
Totally get this. I put in a greywater system last year—cost a small fortune, but it’s barely acknowledged. Why not reward the folks who go all-in? Wouldn’t that push more people to invest long-term?
Title: What if your city paid you to use less water?
- Installed a rainwater harvesting system at my place two years ago. Not cheap, lots of permits and hoops to jump through.
- Water bill dropped, but honestly, no real recognition from the city. No rebates, no tax breaks... just a sense of “well, that’s nice.”
- If cities actually tracked these upgrades and offered some kind of tiered incentive? You’d see way more adoption.
- It’s not just about saving water—it’s about rewarding smart infrastructure choices. Otherwise, feels like we’re just patting ourselves on the back for nothing.
- Curious if anyone’s city actually does reward this stuff? Mine talks a big game but doesn’t deliver much.
Honestly, hats off for going through all that trouble. It’s frustrating when cities talk sustainability but don’t put real incentives behind it. I’ve seen a few municipalities offer small rebates for greywater systems, but nothing substantial. You’re right—if they actually rewarded these choices, you’d see more folks taking the plunge. Sometimes it feels like early adopters do all the heavy lifting... but you are making a difference, even if it doesn’t show up on your tax return.
If cities actually paid people for water savings, you'd see a whole lot more rain barrels and greywater setups overnight. I installed a greywater system myself—cost a small fortune, and the rebate barely covered the permit. The tech is there, but the incentives just aren’t matching the rhetoric. It’s wild how much of this falls on homeowners willing to experiment first.
