Successful Toilet Rebate Program to end this month.

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Marilyn Gelber has announced that the New York City Toilet Rebate Program - having achieved its goals substantially ahead of schedule - will cease taking new applications in mid-April.

Property owners wishing to participate in the Toilet Rebate Program must submit their applications to the Department of Environmental Protection, (DEP) by Friday, April 12th. Any application that is properly completed and submitted by that date will be honored. Installation work is generally completed within 240 days after the application is approved.

Commissioner Gelber said "The response to this innovative program has been overwhelming. The program has led to a substantial savings in water for all New Yorkers, while providing efficient, money-saving fixtures to property owners throughout the City. We are literally flush with success."

"I'm extremely pleased with the significant progress we have made, and I encourage property owners to take advantage of the Program before it reaches its conclusion," Gelber said. "The Toilet Rebate Program has succeeded in providing water and sewer bill relief to thousands of apartment buildings and private homes, while helping rate-payers avoid the unnecessary costs of expanding the system."

At the time of its inception in March 1994, the Toilet Rebate Program set a goal of 1.5 million toilet change-outs. Operating substantially ahead of schedule, the program has already led to the replacement of more than 725,000 old-style toilets with water-saving models in 56,000 properties across the City's five boroughs. Applications for as many as another 600,000 toilets have already been approved. DEP anticipates the applications approved between now and the April 15th end date will complete the work available under the Program's appropriation.

DEP estimates that as much as 90 million gallons of water per day (MOD) will be saved by the time all program toilets are installed. Water consumption has already dropped by about 30 million gallons a day due to the Toilet Rebate Program, officials claim.

With an investment of between $150 and $240 for each toilet replaced, the Program is providing the City with new water and wastewater capacity at a cost one-third to one-quarter of the cost of new pumping stations and wastewater plant expansions.

Collectively, the city's water efficiency programs have resulted in a drop of approximately 200 MGD since 1991. In addition to toilet replacements, these programs include the one of the most aggressive leak detection programs in the nation, water metering, hydrant locking devices, educational programs and water auditing services.

The Toilet Rebate Program was aimed particularly at the affordable housing sector. Approximately 70 percent of the toilet replacements have occurred in Community Board Districts with median incomes below $ 15,000 a year; 51 percent in Districts with median incomes below $12,000 per year; and almost 23 percent of the Program's benefits have been to the poorest communities, with median incomes below $10,000 per year.

"This reduction in water waste allows the city to be better insulated against droughts and will allow us to defer or completely avoid expansions of wastewater treatment plants and water supply sources," Gelber said.

Application packages for the Toilet Rebate Program can still be obtained by calling [phone] or through DEP's 24-hour assistance line, 718-DEP-HELP.

Toilet installation is performed by licensed plumbing companies hired by property owners. DEP does not endorse or approve specific contractors and urges property owners to enter into a detailed contract with their licensed plumber. The toilet rebate may be subject to federal income tax. DEP issues IRS 1099 forms to non-corporate rebate participants whose rebate exceeds $600.