It’s hard to believe that 30% of indoor water use is just from flushing your toilet – but it’s true!

Old toilets use as much as 23 L of water per flush! By switching to a low-flow toilet, you can save anywhere from 80 to 100 L of water per toilet—every day! That adds up to 30,000 L a year! Imagine how much water is saved every time someone upgrades a toilet. That’s a big planetary—and monetary impact!

Why conserve water? First, it saves you money on your water bill. Second, it eases the demand on municipal water systems, especially during times of drought. There is only so much water, so we need to be responsible with how much we use and how we use what we have.

Finally, reducing our water consumption helps the environment. When we reduce our water usage, then we pull less water from surrounding watersheds, leaving more water for the natural environment: the fish, the flora, the fauna we count on to survive. At the same time, we also save energy when we save water.

How so?

Well, the less water that needs to be heated results in less energy used. It’s all connected!

If you’re ready to save water in the easiest way possible—upgrading your toilet—take a look and see if any of these programs apply to you:

Alberta Toilet Rebates

RED DEER TOILET REBATE

Save money, save water, and save energy with Red Deer’s Toilet Rebate Program. Replace your high-flow toilet with a dual-flush toilet and receive a $50 rebate or with a low-flow toilet (6 L or less) and receive a $25 rebate. By doing so, you could save up to 25,550 L of water per person every year.

You qualify for this program if you’re a Red Deer resident with a water bill, you purchase a qualifying toilet, and you dispose of your old one at the Waste Management Facility.

This program allows you to replace 2 toilets per household per year, but you must be replacing existing toilets as new toilets in a new construction don’t count.

To qualify for this program, apply either online or print off a copy of the application form. Either way, bring the interior parts and the toilet seat to the Waste Management Facility, have your receipt stamped with the toilet disposal verification stamp, and then mail the stamped receipt and application form to:

Toilet Rebate ProgramEnvironmental ServicesBox 5008Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 3T4

BANFF WATER USE REDUCTION

If you live in Banff, you can take advantage of the Water Use Reduction rebate program to save money on a new, more water-efficient toilet plus a bunch of other items:

$100 for dual-flush toilet replacement
$100 for high-efficiency (4.8L or less) toilet replacement
$100 for high-efficiency (ENERGY STAR certified) dishwasher replacement

$25 for rain barrels
$100 for ENERGY STAR Most Efficient certified front-loading clothes washers

Simply download the application form and return it with receipts to the address on the application form.

STRATHCONA COUNTY WATER EFFICIENT REBATE

Strathcona County is offering to give you $50 back when you purchase a WaterSense® low-flush toilet. The new toilet you purchase must be a 4.8 L per flush or a dual flush toilet, and your old toilet must be 13 L or more. And make sure it has the WaterSense® label! This is a first-come, first-served program, and one toilet per household per year is allowed.There are a couple ways to apply. Either download, complete, and mail (or fax) the form to:Toilet rebatec/o Utilities2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park AB T8A 3W7Fax: 780-464-0557OR call 780-467-7785 to ask that a form be mailed to you.

OLDS TOILET REBATE

The Toilet Rebate Program gives Olds citizens an opportunity to receive a $50 rebate for replacing old toilets with new water-saving toilets. You could be eligible if you install water-saving 6 L, 4.5 L, or 3 L, or 6 L dual-flush toilets, you are an Olds resident with a utility account in good standing, and your home was built before 2007. There is a maximum of 5 toilets per utility account.This program runs on a first-come, first-served basis, and uniquely, retroactive applications may also be considered from January 1, 2007 onwards.To apply, simply download an application form and bring it to the Town Office to fill out so staff can determine your toilets’ eligibility—and bring your receipts!

STETTLER TOILET REBATE

If you’re tired of flushing your money down the toilet, why not switch out that old toilet with a new, 6 L, 3 L, or 6 L dual-flush toilet and get anywhere from $50 to $100 back? What could be easier?All you need to do is have a water and utility account in good standing, a house older than 2007, and buy an approved toilet to replace your 13 to 20 L toilet. Then download your application form and send it in to Town Hall with your receipt. You can get a rebate on up to 4 toilets!

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE TOILET RETROFIT INCENTIVE

Rocky Mountain House believes in conserving Alberta’s water, and to that end, they’ve create an incentive for residents who replace their 13 to 20 L toilets with new, 6 L toilets.Get $50 back for each 6 L toilet and up to $100 for each dual-flush toilet, up to a maximum of $200 per house per year.This is all that’s required to participate in this program:

Take a picture of the old toilet before removal.

Take a picture of the new toilet after installation.
Supply an original receipt of the purchase of the eligible toilet.
Complete the rebate application form and declaration.
Mail or drop off the above items to the Town Administration Office.

COCHRANE TOILET REBATE

Replace your old toilet with a new, high-efficiency model and reduce your household water consumption. Receive a $50 rebate when you buy a new 4.8L/flush WaterSense®-approved toilet. Only houses built before 2006 qualify. To apply, all you have to do is download and print off the application form and send it back to the Town with your receipt to receive your rebate!

LAC LA BICHE GREEN REBATE PROGRAM

To help reduce water and energy consumption in Lac la Biche, they’re encouraging residents to replace wasteful appliances. Toilets are the biggest water wasters in anyone’s home, so they’re offering a $50 rebate when you switch out your high-flow toilet with a WaterSense®-certified toilet. Plus, as a bonus, if you buy your toilet from a local retailer (as opposed to a nationwide or international chain), you’ll receive an additional 10% back!All you need to get your rebate is buy your toilet and send in your completed application form with a receipt showing your payment method, date of purchase, and the manufacturer/model number of the toilet to the address on the application form.

AIRDRIE TOILET REPLACEMENT REBATE

Get $50 per toilet back on your water bill by replacing your 13 to 20 L toilet with one 6 L or less! Why not save that money—and water—that would otherwise just go down the toilet?This program is open to all Airdrie water customers who have a utility account in good standing and a home built before 2004. Just purchase your new toilet, download the application form, dispose of your old toilet at the Transfer Site, get your disposal receipt, and then send your completed form with your sales and disposal receipts to the address on the application form. There is a maximum of 3 rebates per household.

British Columbia Toilet Rebates

CHILLIWACK TOILET REBATE

Save money and energy—and receive a $50 rebate—when you purchase and install a qualifying low-flow toilet model.

Just purchase and install a CSA- or Warnock Hersey-approved 6 L toilet or a high-efficiency toilet and keep your receipt. Make sure you purchase a toilet with a maximum performance (MaP) rating of 350 or higher (visit Canadian Water and Wastewater Association for information on performance ratings).

Don’t forget to get proof of installation of your new low-flow toilet, such as your plumber’s invoice or photos of the installation.

Then bring your old toilet(s) to Bailey Sanitary Landfill (you do have to unload your own toilet) and keep your scale ticket to get your rebate (OR submit a photo of the old toilet removed with the tank broken).

Mail OR bring your completed application form, original receipt, proof of toilet removal (and indicate the flush volume of your old toilet), and proof of installation to:

City of Chilliwack Engineering Department8550 Young Road

You can also send applications and scanned requirements via email at [email protected].

To qualify for this program, you need to be a Chilliwack homeowner with a water bill and replace a toilet of 13 L or more with one 6 L or less (with the additional requirements listed above).

If you live in a townhouse or duplex, you will need a letter from your Strata Management Company or certified professional stating “the current sewer system in its current orientation can in fact function with lower flows without detriment.”

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NANAIMO TOILET REBATE

Receive a rebate of $50 per toilet when you upgrade our old, 13 L or larger toilet with a new, CSA-approved new low-flow model of 6 L or less. You are allowed to replace 2 per home per year, and this applies to apartment dwellers as well.

If your home is within the Nanaimo city limits and you are connected to the City’s sewer or water system, download the Toilet Rebate Application or pick one up from the Service and Resource Centre and return the completed form with your receipts to the Service and Resource Centre.

RICHMOND TOILET REBATE

Richmond homeowners (single or multi-family homes) can enjoy a $100 rebate to their utility tax bill when they upgrade their old 6 L or more toilets with new, low-flow, CSA-, CUPC-, WaterSense®- or Warnock Hersey-certified toilets (4.8 L or less).

This is a first-come, first-served program with a lifetime maximum of $200 per dwelling, and your application must be received within 90 days of purchase. To apply, download the application form and return it with your receipt and a photo of the old toilet in place and the new toilet in place to

Richmond City Hall6911 No. 3 RdRichmond, BC V6Y 2C1

or [email protected]

ABBOTSFORD HIGH EFFICIENCY TOILET REBATE

Residents of Abbotsford and Mission using the municipal water system who replace their old 13 L or more toilets with CSA-approved, high-efficiency toilets of 4.8 L or less qualify for a $50 rebate (to a maximum of 2)!

Just apply online, attach your sales receipt, and recycle your old toilet at the Abbotsford Mission or Mission Recycling Depots.

MAPLE RIDGE LOW-FLOW TOILET TAX CREDIT

Maple Ridge homeowners whose property taxes are in good standing can receive a $50 utility tax credit by replacing their older toilet with a new, CSA- or Warnock Hersey-approved 4.8 L flush or dual-flush low-flow toilet. Make the switch to a more water-efficient toilet and help conserve water.

All you have to do is fill out and submit the online form, buy your new toilet, and take the receipt and your old toilet to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot. Then just relax; your credit will show up on next year’s property tax bill!

DUNCAN TOILET REBATE

Participating in this program is easy, and it’s also the easiest way there is to save money! If you’d like to see a $50 credit on your utility bill ($100 if you take advantage of their 2 toilet maximum!), and if you’d like to keep saving money with a lower water bill, just follow these steps:

Purchase a CSA-approved low flush toilet—save the receipt!

Replace your old 13 L or higher toilet with the new one.
Take a picture of your old toilet in place.
Take a picture of your new, installed toilet.
Destroy your old toilet and take a picture of it!
Download the application form.

Fill out the form and attach the original sales receipt and your photos.
Send everything to the address at the bottom of the application form.

COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT TOILET REBATE

This program is open to all CVRD residents who wish to replace their 13 to 20 L toilets with new, low-flow toilets (6 L or less). If your house was built before 2007, you may need to upgrade your toilets. And why not? There’s no easier way to save money and help the environment at the same time!

There are very few requirements to be able to participate in this program. Just do a bit of homework to find the right toilet for you (those with a WaterSense® label are the best choice), go buy your toilet and keep the receipt, replace your old toilet with the new one, and dispose of your old toilet. If you dispose of the old toilet yourself, keep the disposal receipt. If a plumber does it for you, just get them to sign the application form.

Then all you have to do is download and fill out the application form and send it in with your sales and disposal receipts (or have your plumber sign the form), and send everything in to the address on the application form.

LADYSMITH LOW FLUSH TOILET RETROFIT REBATE

Cut your water usage by more than half simply by taking advantage of this program! Replace your old 13 to 20 L toilet with a new, CSA-approved, high-efficiency maximum 6 L flush or maximum 4.1/6 L dual-flush toilet and get $75 back on your utility bill (to a maximum of 2 provided you’re attached to the area’s water system).

All you have to do is buy a low-flow toilet, keep your receipt, install the new toilet, and dispose of your old toilet (it must not be reused again). Then you can download the application form and send it with your original sales receipt to the address on the application form. Enjoy saving money!

Manitoba Toilet Rebates

WINNIPEG TOILET REPLACEMENT CREDIT

City residents who switch out their old toilets (with a flush volume of 13 L or more) with a WaterSense®-labelled toilet can receive a credit of $60 per toilet on their utility bill. Remember to take your old toilet to an approved toilet recycling facility!

To be eligible, you just need to be a Winnipeg resident with your name on a water bill, purchase a WaterSense®-labelled toilet to replace a 13 L or more old toilet, and recycle your old toilet at a recycling facility (you must remove the plastic seat and any metal parts) and get a receipt. Then send in a water meter reading on your application form from when the new toilet was installed and then water meter readings every quarter.

You can apply online or download, complete, and send the form and your recycling and purchase receipts to:

Water Conservation – Toilet Replacement Credit ProgramCity of Winnipeg, Water and Waste Department110 – 1199 Pacific AvenueWinnipeg, MB R3E 3S8

POWER SMART PAYS FINANCING

This program from Manitoba Hydro could be of interest to you if you live elsewhere in Manitoba or you’ve already reached the maximum rebate rates set by the City of Winnipeg’s toilet credit program.This financing program is a convenient and affordable financing option that could allow you to make energy-efficiency upgrades to your home. It lets you use your estimated annual utility savings from an energy-efficiency upgrade you made to pay for your upgrade (or a part of). Your annual savings are averaged out over 12 months and used to calculate your monthly payment, which is added to your energy bill. The interest rate if fixed at 4.9% for the first 5 years.The best part is that the loan is attached to your home, so if you sell your house, the payments are transferred to the new owner; they don’t follow you.Power Smart PAYS financing covers qualifying upgrades for WaterSense®-labelled toilets, but you must also buy one of the following energy-efficiency upgrades with it:

Residential space heating equipment
Insulation

Residential water heating and conservation
Drain water heat recovery systems

All you need to do is be a Manitoba homeowner living in a detached, semi-detached, or mobile home (on a permanent foundation with a permanent water supply) with an up-to-date water bill.

Nova Scotia Toilet Rebates

CAPE BRETON LOW FLOW TOILET REBATE

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality wants to help you reduce your water consumption and save money on your water bill. So if you switch out your old high-flow toilet for a newer low-flow model (6 L or less), they’ll give you a $50 rebate on your water bill. All you need to apply is be to a Cape Breton homeowner (single-family only) with a water bill in good standing, have your purchase receipt, and agree to a visit by a Cape Breton representative to confirm that your new toilet has been installed.Just download the form and mail it with your receipt to:

PO Box 28 Stn ASydney, NS B1P 6G9OR drop it off in person at582 George StreetSydney, NS B1P 1K9

Ontario Toilet Rebates

TORONTO HOME ENERGY LOAN PROGRAM

If you book a home energy assessment, his program offers low-interest loans of up to $75,000 to qualifying homeowners interested in improving the energy and water efficiency of their home, including toilets. The loans are paid back over time via installments on your property tax bill. These loans are attached to the house rather than the homeowner, so if you move, the payments are taken over by the new owners.

Eligible upgrades include:

high-efficiency furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners
windows and doors

high-efficiency water heaters
insulation
rooftop solar PV panels
solar hot water systems

drain-water heat recovery systems
air sealing
toilets

This loan helps homeowners avoid the high upfront cost of renovations and access up to $2,250 in incentives from utility companies. Once the loan is approved, homeowners can hire the contractor of their choice from the list of approved contractors and complete their renovations. The maximum amount of the loan can’t be worth more than 10% of the value of your home or $75,000, whichever is less. This includes a 2% administrative charge.

You may qualify for a low-interest loan through HELP if:

you own a detached, semi-detached, or row house,
all the property owners on title agree to the program,
your property tax and utility payments to the City are in good standing, and
you get written consent from your mortgage lender, if applicable.

Click here to apply now. For more information on the program, contact

Sarah Rodrigues, Program Coordinator

Home Energy Loan ProgramEnvironment & Energy DivisionCity of Toronto55 John Street, 2nd FloorToronto, ON M5V 3C6416-392-1826[email protected]

HALTON REGION TOILET REBATE PROGRAM

Reduce your water consumption, your energy bill, and your impact on the environment by replacing your old, inefficient toilet with a new one. And get a $75 rebate! This program has a limit of one per household (not one per year).

Just fill out an application form, purchase a toilet (remember to keep your receipt!) and mail it back to the address below. Then just sit back and wait 8 to 10 weeks to receive your rebate.

Halton Toilet Rebate Program

c/o Halton Region

1151 Bronte Road

Oakville, ON

L6M 3L1

GUELPH ROYAL FLUSH TOILET REBATE

It may seem like a small fix, but switching out an old toilet can have a big impact. Older toilets use a lot more water than today’s water-efficient ones, may flush poorly, and have leaks. This leads to more water use, ongoing maintenance, and higher water bills.

But you can change that and save yourself a lot of money over time. Simply switch out your old 6 L (or more) toilet with an eligible new, efficient, 4.8 L model and get a $50 rebate per toilet (to a maximum of 2 toilets). Just download the application form to apply!

BARRIE TOILET REBATE

Barrie residents who own homes built before 1996 can take advantage of this rebate program by replacing their old toilets of more than 6 L with high-efficiency toilets of less than 6 L. You could get a $50 credit on your water bill! Unfortunately, you can only receive a rebate for 1 toilet per household.

The eligibility requirements are easy:

You need to complete a Toilet Rebate Application Form (available on the 3rd Floor, City Hall).
You must sign a form declaring that you’ve replaced the high-flow toilet with a new low-flow toilet and that you’ve disposed of the old one at the landfill.

You need a receipt for the purchase of a new low-flow toilet (6 L or less).
You need photo ID (Driver’s Licence)
You need Proof of Ownership (tax bill) for the property where the toilet is being installed.

NIAGARA FALLS TOILET RETROFIT REBATE

Save yourself money and save Canada’s water by replacing your old high-flow toilet with a new, low-flow (4.8 L or less), WaterSense® toilet and get $60 per toilet, to a maximum of 2!

If you are a Niagara Falls homeowner (single or multi-family) with an up-to-date utility bill, you can qualify for this rebate provided you fill out an application form and return it with your receipts and proof that the toilets are on the WaterSense®-approved list (make, model, manufacturer on the receipt, packaging, or owner’s manual) to the cashiers at City Hall.

Be prepared to dispose of the old toilets and for the City to possibly send someone to your home to confirm that you’ve installed the new toilets.

PETERBOROUGH LOW-FLOW TOILET REPLACEMENT REBATE

For those Peterborough residents attached to both the municipal water and sanitary systems and interested in upgrading their inefficient, high-flow toilets with new, low-flow ones, this program will give you a $50 rebate per upgraded toilet, to a maximum of 2. You don’t have to be the homeowner, and this program also applies to both single and multi-family homes, but those in a multi-family home need to register with the City before buying a new toilet.

All you have to do is purchase a new, low-flow WaterSense® toilet, have the new toilet installed and inspected after installation, dispose of your old toilet, and download and return the application form with your purchase receipt to

City of Peterborough Sustainability Office210 Wolfe StreetPeterborough, ON K9J 2K9Phone: 705- 742-7777 ext. 1441

NORTH BAY RESIDENTIAL LOW FLOW REPLACEMENT REBATE

You can also save water and money in North Bay! Homeowners can get a $50 rebate on their water bill, but there is a 2 toilet maximum per account.

So, if you want to take advantage of this program, simply buy a replacement toilet, confirm that it is a WaterSense® certified toilet, install the new toilet, print off a rebate application form, and then mail or deliver the completed application with the original receipt to:

City of North BayCustomer Service CentrePO Box 360200 McIntyre St. E.North Bay, ON P1B 8H8Phone: 705-474-0400

Don’t forget to dispose of your old toilet properly at the Merrick Landfill Site!

ORANGEVILLE TOILET REBATE

Hold on Orangeville, there’s a toilet rebate for you too! Just replace a toilet with a flush volume of 6 L or larger with a WaterSense®-certified toilet and get a $60 rebate.

Who couldn’t use an extra $60 in their pocket? If you have old, high-flow toilets, are an Orangeville resident attached to both the municipal and sanitary systems, you can!

Start by buying an approved WaterSense® toilet, download the application form, submit it with your sales receipt to the Public Works Department, and make an appointment to have someone come out to inspect both your old and new toilets.

Then take apart your old toilet, put on the provided garbage sticker, and put the parts out for your ordinary garbage collection. Done! And the best part is this particular program has no limits on the number of toilets per home provided they are all replacement toilets, not toilets for new construction or bathroom additions.

COLLINGWOOD LOW-FLOW TOILET REBATE

All Collingwood residents with a water account in good standing can take advantage of this program to get money back for replacing old high-flow toilets (6 L or more) with new, ecoENERGY-approved, low-flow models.

Get a rebate of $50 per toilet, to a maximum of 2, on your water bill when you make this one simple change. All you have to do is purchase a qualifying toilet, keep your receipt, replace the old toilet with the new, and dispose of your old toilet. Then you can download the application form, fill it in, and send it with your original receipt to the address below. You may require an inspection to ensure the toilet has been installed, but it only takes about 10 minutes.

Send your application to

Toilet Rebate Program43 Stewart RoadCollingwood, OntarioL9Y 4M7

TOWN OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS TOILET REBATE

If your home in the Town of the Blue Mountains was built before 1996 and is connected to the municipal water system, you could qualify for a $50 rebate per toilet (2 per house maximum) when you replace your high-flow toilet with a new, qualifying WaterSense®-labelled toilet.

But hurry! This is a first-come, first-served program, and only 150 rebates per year will be given. Make sure one of these rebates is yours by purchasing a new, qualifying toilet, replacing your old one with it, and disposing of the old toilet. Then all you need to do is download the application form, fill it in, and send it with your sales receipt to the address on the application form—make sure you include your utility account number!

OXFORD COUNTY TOILET REBATE

Get $50 per toilet (2 toilet maximum) back on your water bill if you’re an Oxford county resident connected to the municipal water system, your account is in good standing, and you replace your 13 L or more toilet with a 6 L or less toilet. Your home must have been built before 1995.

Just purchase and install a WaterSense®-certified toilet in place of your old toilet, dispose of your old toilet at the Oxford County Waste Management Facility, and allow a County representative to inspect the new installation and/or read the water meter. Then you can download the application form and send it in with your original sales and disposal receipts to the address on the application form.

Quebec Toilet Rebates

VILLE DE SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU TOILET REBATE

Until funds run out, residents can take advantage of this program to replace their old, high-flow toilet with a dual-flush or high-efficiency 4.8 L toilet and get $40 back, with a 1 toilet maximum.

To qualify, your house must be older than 2008, must be attached to both the municipal water and sewer systems, you must agree to an inspection of the newly installed toilet, and you must properly dispose of the old toilet.

Just download the form and return it with your proof of home ownership, the receipt for your new toilet, and all other forms that need to be signed (on the application form) to the Department of Urban Planning, Environment and Economic Development.

SHAWINIGAN TOILET REBATE

Residential homeowners connected to the water system in Shawinigan can replace their standard toilet (9 to 20 L) with a low-flow toilet (6 L or less). Part of Shawinigan’s Green Programs to adopt environmentally friendly practices, this program will give you $65 dollars back for each toilet.

Just buy your new toilet, download the application form, and return it (with your proof of residence, the name and dealer’s details, the date of purchase, the brand of the toilet, and the name and model number of the toilet) to the Planning Department at City Hall.

Prince Edward Island Toilet Rebates

EFFICIENCY PEI EQUIPMENT UPGRADE

This program administered by the provincial government offers rebates to all residents who upgrade certain items for energy efficiency, including toilets.

Get a $50 rebate when you switch out your old, inefficient toilet for a new WaterSense®-certified one with a MaP rating of 1,000g or higher. There doesn’t appear to be any limit on the number of toilets that can receive a rebate, but check with them toll free at 1-877-734-6336 to be sure.

To receive your rebate, fill out the application form, purchase and install your new toilet, and return the form with your receipt (showing where the toilet was purchased and the make and model numbers) and most recent Maritime Electric bill to

efficiencyPEI

31 Gordon Drive PO Box 2000,

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 7N8

OR deliver it in person to

31 Gordon Drive, Charlottetown or any AccessPEI office.

CORNWALL TOILET REBATE

Cornwall offers a rebate of $75 per toilet (up to maximum of 2 toilet rebates) when you replace older, less efficient toilets with new ultra-low flow models.

All residential homeowners, whether single-family home, semi-detached, or duplex are eligible to participate provided they have a utility account in good standing with the City and are replacing an existing toilet with a flush volume of 6 L or above.

Simply pick up an application form at Cornwall Town Hall, or download one, and return it to Town Hall along with proof of property ownership or residency (i.e., utility bill, your driver’s licence, or household bill), a copy of your sales receipt, and a copy of the disposal receipt from Green Isle after disposing of your old toilet. And be ready to make yourself available to have someone come and inspect the installation of your new toilet!

Yukon Toilet Rebates

GOOD ENERGY YUKON TOILET REBATE

Conserve one of Yukon’s most important resources by replacing your water-wasting old toilet with a low-flow WaterSense® toilet. If you do, Good Energy will give you $65 back—per toilet!

Download the application form and return it with your sales receipt showing you’ve paid the entire balance to Good Energy’s Energy Solution Centre.

11 Ways to Maximize Your Toilet Rebates & Save Money

The last thing you want to have happen after you’ve taken the time and money to replace your old toilets is to have your toilet rebate application denied.

And these programs have been put in place because these communities really stand behind conserving water and preserving the environment, so they actually want to give you this free money.

Just remember these handy tips when you decide to apply to participate in a toilet rebate program:

Read all the instructions

Read all the instructions, terms and conditions, and eligibility requirements. One missed step could result in you getting no money back.

Ensure your old toilet, new toilet, & your house meet all criteria

Ensure your old toilet, your new toilet, and your house meet all the eligibility criteria. While your old toilet has to meet certain high-flush capacities (generally 13 to 20 L) and your new toilet must meet additional criteria (such as being WaterSense® certified), your house quite often also has to meet certain criteria, the most common being the year it was built. If you don’t know, check the documents from the sale of your home or look it up in municipality archives or building permit records to find out.

Do your homework

Many programs provide a list of approved toilets, but almost as many ask that you do your own homework, so do some digging to find a toilet that you know will be approved. A general rule of thumb is to look for the WaterSense® label. There are many other sources on low-flush toilet performance. Talk to your local plumber or home renovation store or take a look these independent test results of low-consumption toilets: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/inpr/su/waho/waho_016.cfm and http://www.cwwa.ca/freepub_e.asp#MAP.

Keep all your documents and make copies of them all.

Keep all your documents and make copies of them all. Some programs require original receipts, some will mail them back—some won’t, and some are okay with copies, so read closely and make sure you’re sending in the correct version.

Never use the old toilet again

The purpose of these programs is to collectively save water in your area, so if you use the toilet somewhere else or try to be nice and give the toilet to someone else to use, not only are you defeating the purpose but you may void your rebate if they find out—because you never know! Most programs require proof of disposal but not all, so make sure you get rid of it.

Save more money if you can install the new toilet yourself

Save some more money if you can install the new toilet yourself. It’s surprisingly easy to do for anyone, especially with a little help from Youtube!

How else can you save water while you’re at it? I’m glad you asked!

Use a wastebasket for tissues and trash instead of flushing them down the toilet.
Keep your toilet in top running condition. If you touch the flapper and get black goo on your hand, the flapper needs to be replaced.
Look for the EPA’s new WaterSense® label and visit their website when shopping for high-efficiency toilets, landscape irrigation services, irrigation control technologies, showerheads, and more!

Install a rain sensor for your home irrigation system if you do not have one. This is probably the easiest action you can take to save the most water—even easier than replacing your toilet!
Test for leaks by putting a few drops of some coloured liquid (such as coffee or tea) in your tank and wait ten minutes. If, without flushing, the colour begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak, which should be repaired immediately.