Weekly Express-News Article
Saturday, July 30, 2005By Calvin Finch,
Conservation Director and Horticulturist, SAWS

“Season to Save – Funds and Conservation”

            San Antonio has reduced per capita water use by 40% in two decades.  Trading out high-flow toilets for low-flow toilets has been one of the most important contributions to the water savings.  And the most popular program for achieving toilet conversions, the Season to Save Program is being organized for 2005 – 2006.  The Season to Save is popular because it awards non-profit organizations $25 for every toilet that they convince their members to change out.  That’s right, your church, school, garden club, neighborhood, youth group, service club or other organization with legal non-profit status can sign up its members and/or supporters that are SAWS customers to receive one or two free low-flow toilets and, if the individuals follow-through, $25 for each commode replaced goes to your treasury for worthy projects.

 

            The first requirement if your group wants to participate is that someone representing the group must attend one of the organizational meetings.  The meetings are spread around the community and during the day and in the evening to make them convenient to everyone.  Here is the schedule of meetings: 

 

 

            Remember, someone representing your group must attend one of these meetings if your non-profit wants to participate. Call (210) 704-7354 to reserve a seat.

 

            The way the program works is that groups sign up as many individuals with high-flow toilets as possible.  Your toilets are high flow if they were in place before 1992.  Households are eligible if they are SAWS customers and they have not received free toilets or a rebate before.  If your home has two or more bathrooms, you may receive two toilets.  The records of the Bexar County Appraisal District are the official determination of how many bathrooms at a particular address.

 

            The one-page signed request is processed by SAWS prior to the toilet pick-up event in early 2006.  Eligible and ineligible applicants are notified.  Eligible recipients must go pick up the toilet on the designated pick-up day.  Last year, the distribution event was at the Alamodome and over 4,000 toilets were distributed. 

 

            The most successful groups knocked on doors in their neighborhood or enlisted the help of the media.  SAWS will provide plenty of applications and advice on how to most effectively use the program to make income for your group. 

 

            The toilets provided in Season to Save are Universal Rundle Crane.  They were selected in a competitive bidding process and had to operate at demanding performance levels.   If you are over 65 years old or obtain a note from your doctor, you may receive a toilet with features to accommodate handicapped individuals.  Last year, across all the toilet distribution programs, SAWS provided 15,000 toilets to our customers.  Nearly all of them performed well.  In addition to the excellent performance, the Universal Rundle Crane is one of the brands that is permanently low flow.  You must put the right flapper in the toilet.  Some other brands revert to a water-wasting toilet if you replace the original flapper mechanism with a universal replacement flapper.

 

            Flappers should be replaced every year on all toilets and you should insist on obtaining the same flapper.  If your suppliers do not have the right replacement flapper, seek another supplier.  Visit the SAWS website www.saws.org and click on Conservation for a discussion of flappers and a diagram showing you how to replace your own.  For more information on Season to Save call (210) 704-7354 or visit the SAWS website.  Do not hesitate; if your group wants to be successful it takes some time to organize the effort.

- 2 -