Wichita officials preview $150,000 for 2025 water-conservation rebate program

City Manager Bob Layton told the Wichita City Council on Feb. 14 that staff would place a $150,000 allocation for the 2025 water conservation rebate program on the Feb. 18 consent agenda.

Gary, a city staff member, told council members the program’s reported cumulative water savings—"estimated savings of $481,000,000 gallons since we started the program"—reflects annual savings per device and that the figure grows when device life is taken into account. "If you look at the average life of a device, 3, 5 years, whatever it might be, it really starts to add up," Gary said. He added, "It lasts 5 years. You get that same savings 5 years in a row." Staff said they would refine the savings calculation and return updated figures to the council.

Layton described the item as an entry on the Feb. 18 consent agenda; no formal council vote on the allocation occurred at the Feb. 14 workshop. Council members asked clarifying questions about the savings figures and staff confirmed they would provide a refined estimate before the consent agenda meeting.

The water conservation rebate program provides rebates tied to specific devices; city staff said the reported gallon savings are calculated per device for a single year and that multiplying by typical device lifespans increases the cumulative total. Further detail on program eligibility, device types, or the precise mix of funding was not specified at the workshop.

The council is scheduled to consider the measure on Feb. 18; staff committed to deliver the updated savings calculations ahead of that meeting.