DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management
Toilet Retrofit Rebate Program
Application Guidelines
Beginning January 8, 2008, the Department of Watershed Management offers a Toilet Retrofit Rebate Program to DeKalb County water customers whose homes were built prior to 1993. This program will assist customers in replacing their old toilets with efficient water-conserving toilets to conserve water and money. The toilet retrofit rebate program will only honor purchases starting on January 1, 2008; no purchases prior will qualify for rebate. Toilets being replaced must have been installed prior to 1993.
Toilet Rebate: There are two rebate options. The first is a $50.00 rebate for the purchase of any approved 1.6 gallons per flush toilet on the list of eligible toilets (click here for list). The second option is $100.00 rebate for the purchase of any approved 1.28 gallons per flush toilet on the list of eligible toilets (click here for list).
Only the exact model names and number combinations on DeKalb County’s list of eligible toilets will qualify for the toilet rebate. These toilets have been tested in specific combinations for performance and water savings – tank and bowl number cannot be "mixed and matched" from different models. Other models may be available for purchase, but WILL NOT qualify for a rebate. Customers will only be allowed to apply for a maximum of three (3) toilets per household.
Program Requirements:
• Toilets must be installed in a property located in DeKalb County.
• Toilets must be installed in a property that is an individually metered residential dwelling as defined by Section 27-31 (click here for Section 27-31) of the DeKalb County Code (a DeKalb County Water and Sewer account verifies that a home is individually metered).
• There is a limit of replacing three (3) toilets per household. To receive the $50.00 or $100.00 rebate, each new toilet must be replacing an existing old, large capacity toilet installed prior to 1993. The $50.00 rebate option applies to 1.6 gallons per flush toilets, and the $100.00 rebate option applies to 1.28 gallons per flush toilets.
• Old toilets cannot be reused. Participants agree to dispose of their old toilets.
Program Participants:
• Please check the list of qualifying toilets before you make your purchase. Only the model names and numbers listed on the eligible toilet lists will qualify for a rebate.
• A completed application form (click here for application form) and original sales receipt(s) must be mailed to: Department of Watershed Management
ATTN: Toilet Retrofit Rebate Program
1580 Roadhaven Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083.
• Application form and original sales receipt(s) must be submitted within sixty (60) days of purchase.
• Rebate checks will be mailed within sixty (60) days, and will be mailed and made payable to the property owner.
• DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management reserves the right to modify this program at any time.
• For any questions or further clarification, please call 311 or 770-270-6243.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Changes On The Way
There are some changes on the horizon for home inspectors in Georgia. Senate Bill 334 has just passed and, it is going to require state licensing for home inspectors. I am always partial to having the government involved only when they need to be. There have been some issues that have come to pass that this bill will help resolve but, I believe the consumers did not need the government in order to make their own, educated choices. The most important component of this bill is going to be the requirement of passing a minimum exam to get your license as a home inspector. However, there are already organizations in place to make sure the educated consumer is protected.
Under the current law, there are no licensing requirements for home inspectors. Which creates a buyer beware environment for those people shopping for a home inspection. If a buyer is wise they do their homework in advance and, they know that there are several national and state organizations already in place which, if an inspector chooses to align him or herself with them, require some basic standards from it’s members. For example, American Society for Home Inspectors, ASHI, requires that members pass an exam, complete continuing education classes, and have adequate insurance coverage. With no state regulation, the home inspection industry in Georgia has become divided. There are inspectors that become members of some organization such as ASHI to provide their customers with some reassurance and those that have not. Here at Home-Probe, Inc., we require all our inspectors to meet the requirements of ASHI. It does take more time, effort and money to meet their standards but, we’ve come to understand that the customers want peace of mind and to know their inspector is trained and educated. Some of our competitors have been folks that are in this business to earn “a little spending money”. And although these people may make great inspectors and have their client’s best interest at heart there is no hard evidence of that for the customers to rest upon. Then there are always a few bad apples that may one day pick up a flashlight and decide to begin doing home inspections with no insurance, no prior experience, and limited knowledge of the trade. If a customer is unaware and uneducated they are definitely taking a risk just by choosing a home inspector and price is usually the deciding factor.
The law currently being passed by the Georgia Legislature is going to try to take some of the risk out of shopping for a home inspection. A board is being organized which will basically mimic these already existing national and state organizations. Everyone acting as a home inspector will be required to obtain a license through the board. The licensing requirements are going to include minimum insurance coverage and the passing score on an exam. The effects of this new law on the industry can only be speculated at this point. It may drive several good inspectors, who serve customers in their spare time to earn, “a little spending money” to hang up their hats and get out of the game completely. It may allow some of the bad inspectors to pass minimum requirements and be able to claim “licensed” and provide false security to their customers. It may unify the industry and provide the protection and reassurance that customers really want. Right now, it is wait and see and hope for the best.
Under the current law, there are no licensing requirements for home inspectors. Which creates a buyer beware environment for those people shopping for a home inspection. If a buyer is wise they do their homework in advance and, they know that there are several national and state organizations already in place which, if an inspector chooses to align him or herself with them, require some basic standards from it’s members. For example, American Society for Home Inspectors, ASHI, requires that members pass an exam, complete continuing education classes, and have adequate insurance coverage. With no state regulation, the home inspection industry in Georgia has become divided. There are inspectors that become members of some organization such as ASHI to provide their customers with some reassurance and those that have not. Here at Home-Probe, Inc., we require all our inspectors to meet the requirements of ASHI. It does take more time, effort and money to meet their standards but, we’ve come to understand that the customers want peace of mind and to know their inspector is trained and educated. Some of our competitors have been folks that are in this business to earn “a little spending money”. And although these people may make great inspectors and have their client’s best interest at heart there is no hard evidence of that for the customers to rest upon. Then there are always a few bad apples that may one day pick up a flashlight and decide to begin doing home inspections with no insurance, no prior experience, and limited knowledge of the trade. If a customer is unaware and uneducated they are definitely taking a risk just by choosing a home inspector and price is usually the deciding factor.
The law currently being passed by the Georgia Legislature is going to try to take some of the risk out of shopping for a home inspection. A board is being organized which will basically mimic these already existing national and state organizations. Everyone acting as a home inspector will be required to obtain a license through the board. The licensing requirements are going to include minimum insurance coverage and the passing score on an exam. The effects of this new law on the industry can only be speculated at this point. It may drive several good inspectors, who serve customers in their spare time to earn, “a little spending money” to hang up their hats and get out of the game completely. It may allow some of the bad inspectors to pass minimum requirements and be able to claim “licensed” and provide false security to their customers. It may unify the industry and provide the protection and reassurance that customers really want. Right now, it is wait and see and hope for the best.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Dekalb County Plumbing Retrofit Approved
On February 26, 2008 Dekalb County approved the Inefficient Plumbing Fixtures Replacement Plan. Any home built prior to 1993 must have low flow toilet and plumbing fixtures installed before the homeowner can obtain water from the county.
Effective June 1, 2008, sellers will be required to disclose the Dekalb County Ordinance when selling their homes. Listing agents in Dekalb should add a notice of this ordinance to the seller’s disclosure and/or sales contract. Before the new homeowner can obtain water service, they must provide written proof from a home inspector, licensed plumber, or a Department of Watershed Inspector. This certificate will be required with their application for water service.
Single family homes and condos will need to have the following:
1. Toilets can have a max of 1.6 gallons per flush
2. Shower heads can put out a max of 2.5 gallons per minute
3. Lavatory faucets can put out a max of 2 gallons per minute
4. Kitchen faucets can put out a mac of 2.2 gallons per minute
Based on average home sales statistics, Dekalb County foresees saving 360,000 gallons of water a day by enacting this ordinance and predicts it will take more than 33 years to replace all of the older water guzzling toilets and fixtures.
There are some exemptions to this ordinance and they include the following:
1. Foreclosure sales
2. Family sales > from spouse to spouse or from parents to their children
3. Homes that will be demolished after the sale
4. Circumstances where the cost of the toilet will be over $1,000.00 per toilet change out
If you violate these new laws, you are subject to the following penalties:
1. First violation will be warning
2. Second violation (within 12 months of first violation) will be $250.003.
Third violation (within 12 months of first violation) will be $500.00
The article above was orignally published at http://pruittpulse.com/ by the Senior Vice President, Managing Broker of the Sandy Springs office on March 31, 2008. It is so interesting and informative that we felt we should share it with our customers too!
Effective June 1, 2008, sellers will be required to disclose the Dekalb County Ordinance when selling their homes. Listing agents in Dekalb should add a notice of this ordinance to the seller’s disclosure and/or sales contract. Before the new homeowner can obtain water service, they must provide written proof from a home inspector, licensed plumber, or a Department of Watershed Inspector. This certificate will be required with their application for water service.
Single family homes and condos will need to have the following:
1. Toilets can have a max of 1.6 gallons per flush
2. Shower heads can put out a max of 2.5 gallons per minute
3. Lavatory faucets can put out a max of 2 gallons per minute
4. Kitchen faucets can put out a mac of 2.2 gallons per minute
Based on average home sales statistics, Dekalb County foresees saving 360,000 gallons of water a day by enacting this ordinance and predicts it will take more than 33 years to replace all of the older water guzzling toilets and fixtures.
There are some exemptions to this ordinance and they include the following:
1. Foreclosure sales
2. Family sales > from spouse to spouse or from parents to their children
3. Homes that will be demolished after the sale
4. Circumstances where the cost of the toilet will be over $1,000.00 per toilet change out
If you violate these new laws, you are subject to the following penalties:
1. First violation will be warning
2. Second violation (within 12 months of first violation) will be $250.003.
Third violation (within 12 months of first violation) will be $500.00
The article above was orignally published at http://pruittpulse.com/ by the Senior Vice President, Managing Broker of the Sandy Springs office on March 31, 2008. It is so interesting and informative that we felt we should share it with our customers too!
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