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is i 1 !j Other factors motivating LADWP to initiate the ULFT program ^ The Board of Commissioners felt that conservation was critical. ^ LADWP had nearly saturated the market with efficient showerheads. ^ Nearby towns of Goleta and Santa Monica already had implemented ULFT programs. ^ Studies by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California indicated that significant water savings were available from ULFT retrofits. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Ultra Low Flush Toilet Rebate Program, California The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) sells water to retail customers in the City of Los Angeles, California. To conserve water and to meet its commitments under a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation, LADWP initiated a program to replace standard toilets, which use 5 to 7 gallons per flush, with ultra low flush models (ULFTs), which use only 1.6 gallons per flush. Basic Retrofit Program The key element of the initial ULFT retrofit program was customers' involve- ment in the work. Customers would select, buy and install an approved ULFT and provide the necessary documentation; then LADWP would provide a rebate. The standard program, which began in 1990, offers a rebate to all customers who install an approved model ULFT. Current rebate levels are $100 per ULFT for single-family residential and condominium customers, and $75 per ULFT for all other customers. ^ The program goal for the first year was to install 7,500 ULFTs. ^ The program actually installed 90,000 ULFTs during that time. 42 ^ An extended drought and mandatory water rationing were the primary reasons for the unexpected participation level. ^ The current goal is to maximize the number of installed ULFTs, subject to funding limitations. Community-Based Organization Program The LADWP initiated a variant of the program in September 1992. The Commu- nity-Based Organization (CBO) program offers a ULFT to residents at no cost and provides the CBO with $25 per installed toilet to cover its program costs. Generally, the CBO staff market the program door- to-door and establish a depot where residents can pick up the ULFT. Some CBOs also offer direct installation for participants or installation by local plumbers at discounted rates. CBOs generally do not have much funding available and would not be able to operate the program if not provided the $25 subsidy by LADWP. The CBO program targets low-income customers, who were not responding to the standard rebate offer. The Mothers of East Los Angeles approached LADWP and offered to run a program in their neighbor- hood. Because many low-income custom- ers do not have the cash to purchase a ULFT, the rebate program was not an effective incentive for them. By offering residents a free toilet, LADWP has been able to achieve a much higher participation rate in low-income areas. As with the standard rebate program, LADWP has removed itself from most of the details of administering the CBO program. For the first ten months of the program, LADWP paid $100 to a subcon- tractor for each installed ULFT. For this price the subcontractor handled all aspects